"HE  1  [BRARY 


THE  UNIVERSITY 


OF  CAL  [FORNIA 


LOS  ANGELES 


GIFT  OF 

Mrs.  Ben  B.  Lindsey 


WHEN  DREAMS  COME 
TRUE 


BY 
HITTER  BROWN 

AUTHOR  OF  "MAN'S  BIRTHRIGHT  ' 


ILLUSTRATED  BY 

W.   M.    BERGER 


New  York 
Desmond  FitzGerald,   Inc. 


Copyright,  1912 
By  Desmond  FitzGerald,  Inc, 


PS 

3 

B 


TO 
MY  SON 


ILLUSTRATIONS 

She  glided  and  whirled  in  the  moonlight,  graceful 

as  a  wind-blown  rose  " Frontispiece 

FACING 
PAGE 

The  picture  which  she  presented  was  one  he  carried 

with  him  for  many  a  day" 130 

Instinctively  he  raised  the  casket  with  both  hands  "  272 

'Madre!   Madre  mia!  '  she  cried  and   flung  herself 

into  Chiquita's   arms  " 292 

They  were  startled  by  a  low  moan  and  saw  Blanch 

sink  slowly  to  the  bench  " 330 


There  is  a  tradition  extant  among  the  Indians 
of  the  Southwest,  extending  from  Arizona  to  the 
Isthmus  of  Panama,  to  the  effect  that,  Montezuma 
will  one  day  return  on  the  back  of  an  eagle,  wear 
ing  a  golden  crown,  and  rule  the  land  once  more; 
typifying  the  return  of  the  Messiah  and  the  rebirth 
and  renewal  of  the  race. 


WHEN  DREAMS  COME 
TRUE 


THE  beauty  of  midsummer  lay  upon  the  land  —  the 
mountains  and  plains  of  Chihuahua.  It  was  Au 
gust,  the  month  of  melons  and  ripening  corn.  High 
aloft  in  the  pale  blue  vault  of  heaven,  a  solitary  eagle 
soared  in  ever  widening  circles  in  its  flight  toward  the  sun. 
Far  out  upon  the  plains  the  lone  wolf  skulked  among  the 
sage  and  cactus  in  search  of  the  rabbit  and  antelope,  or 
lay  panting  in  the  scanty  shade  of  the  yucca. 

By  most  persons  this  little  known  land  of  the  great 
Southwest  is  regarded  as  the  one  which  God  forgot. 
But  to  those  who  are  familiar  with  its  vast  expanse 
of  plain  and  horizon,  its  rugged  sierras,  its  wild  desolate 
mesas  and  solitary  peaks  of  half-decayed  mountains  — 
its  tawny  stretches  of  desert  marked  with  the  occasional 
skeletons  of  animal  and  human  remains  —  its  golden 
wealth  of  sunshine  and  opalescent  skies,  and  have  felt 
the  brooding  death-like  silence  which  seems  to  hold  as 
in  a  spell  all  things  living  as  well  as  dead,  this  land  be 
comes  one  of  mystery  and  enchantment  —  a  mute  wit 
ness  of  some  unknown  or  forgotten  past  when  the  chil 
dren  of  men  were  young,  whose  secrets  it  still  withholds, 

7 


8  WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE 

and  with  whose  dust  is  mingled  not  only  that  of  un 
numbered  and  unknown  generations  of  men,  but  that  of 
Montezuma  and  the  hardy  daring  Conquistadores  of 
old  Spain. 

But  whatever  may  be  the  general  consensus  of  opin 
ion  concerning  this  land,  such  at  least  was  the  light 
in  which  it  was  viewed  by  Captain  Forest,  as  he  and 
his  Indian  attendant,  Jose,  drew  rein  on  the  rim  of  a 
broken,  wind-swept  mesa  in  the  heart  of  the  Chihuahuan 
desert,  a  full  day's  ride  from  Santa  Fe  whither  they 
were  bound,  to  witness  the  Fiesta,  the  Feast  of  the  Corn, 
which  was  celebrated  annually  at  this  season. 

The  point  where  they  halted  commanded  a  sweeping 
view  of  the  surrounding  country.  Just  opposite,  some 
five  leagues  distant,  on  the  farther  side  of  the  valley 
which  lay  below  them,  towered  the  sharp  ragged  crest 
of  the  Mexican  Sierras ;  their  sides  and  foothills  clothed 
in  a  thin  growth  of  chaparral,  pine  and  juniper  and 
other  low-growing  bushes.  Deep,  rugged  arroyos,  the 
work  of  the  rain  and  mountain  torrents,  cut  and  scarred 
the  foothills  which  descended  in  precipitous  slopes  to  the 
valley  and  plains  below.  Solitary  giant  cactus  dotted 
the  landscape,  adding  to  the  general  desolation  of  the 
scene,  relieved  only  by  the  glitter  of  the  silvery  sage, 
white  poppy  and  yucca,  and  yellow  and  scarlet  cactus 
bloom  which  glistened  in  the  slanting  rays  of  the  after 
noon  sun  and  the  intense  radiation  of  heat  in  which  was 
mirrored  the  distant  mirage ;  transforming  the  desert 
into  wonderful  lakes  of  limpid  waters  that  faded  in  turn 
on  the  ever  receding  horizon. 

Below  them  numerous  Indian  encampments  of  some 


WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE  9 

half-wild  hill  tribe  straggled  along  the  banks  of  the 
almost  dry  stream  which  wound  through  the  valley 
until  lost  in  the  thirsty  sands  of  the  desert  beyond. 

"  'Tis  the  very  spot,  Capitan  —  the  place  of  the 
skull!"  ejaculated  Jose,  the  first  to  break  the  silence. 
"See  —  yonder  it  lies  just  as  we  left  it!"  and  he 
pointed  toward  the  foot  of  the  mesa  where  a  spring 
trickled  from  the  rock,  a  short  distance  from  which  lay 
a  human  skull  bleached  white  by  long  exposure  to  the 
sun. 

Instinctively  the  Captain's  thoughts  reverted  to  the 
incidents  of  the  previous  year  when  he  lay  in  the  desert 
sick  unto  death  with  fever  and  his  horse,  Starlight, 
had  stood  over  his  prostrate  body  and  fought  the  wolves 
and  vultures  for  a  whole  day  and  night  until  Jose  re 
turned  with  help  from  the  Indian  pueblo,  La  Guna. 
Involuntarily  his  hand  slipped  caressingly  to  the  ani 
mal's  neck,  a  chestnut  with  four  white  feet  and  a  white 
mane  and  tail  that  swept  the  ground  and  a  forelock 
that  hung  to  his  nostrils,  concealing  the  star  on  his  fore 
head;  a  magnificent  animal,  lithe  and  graceful  as  a 
lady's  silken  scarf,  untiring  and  enduring  as  a  Damas 
cus  blade.  A  horse  that  comes  but  once  during  twenty 
generations  of  Spanish-Arabian  stock,  and  then  is  rare, 
and  which,  through  some  trick  of  nature  or  reversion, 
blossoms  forth  in  all  the  beauty  of  an  original  type, 
taking  upon  himself  the  color  and  markings  of  some  shy, 
wild-eyed  dam,  the  pride  of  the  Bedouin  tribe  and  is 
known  as  the  "  Pearl  of  the  Desert."  The  type  of  horse 
that  bore  Alexander  and  Jenghis  Khan  and  the  Proph 
et's  War  Chieftains  to  victory.  As  a  colt  he  had  es- 


10  WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE 

caped  the  rodeo.  No  mark  of  the  branding-irons 
scarred  his  shoulder  or  thin  transparent  flanks.  Again 
the  Captain's  thoughts  traveled  backward  and  he  beheld 
a  band  of  wild  horses  driven  past  him  in  review  by  a 
troup  of  Mexican  vaqueros,  and  the  beautiful  chestnut 
stallion  emerge  from  the  cloud  of  dust  on  their  rim  and 
tossing  his  great  white  mane  in  the  breeze,  neigh  loudly 
and  defiantly  as  he  swept  by  lithe  and  supple  of  limb. 

"  Bring  me  that  horse !  "  he  had  cried. 

"That  horse?  Jose  y  Maria,  Capitan!  He  cannot 
be  broken.  Besides,  it  will  take  ten  men  to  tie  him." 

"  Then  let  ten  men  tie  him !  "  he  had  replied,  flinging 
a  handful  of  golden  eagles  among  them. 

Many  attempts  had  been  made  to  steal  the  Arab 
since  he  had  come  into  the  Captain's  possession.  It 
was  a  dangerous  undertaking,  for  the  horse  had  the 
nai've  habit  of  relegating  man  to  his  proper  place,  either 
by  ignoring  his  presence,  or  by  quietly  kicking  him  into 
eternity  with  the  same  indifference  that  he  would  switch 
a  fly  with  his  tail.  Jose  might  feed  and  groom  and 
saddle  him,  but  not  mount  him.  To  one  only  would 
he  submit ;  to  him  to  whom  a  common  destiny  had  linked 
him  —  his  master. 

"  Sangre  de  Dios,  Capitan! "  began  Jose  again, 
breaking  in  upon  the  latter's  musings.  "  Is  it  not  bet 
ter  that  we  rest  yonder  by  the  spring  than  sit  here 
in  this  infernal  sun,  gazing  at  nothing?  'Tis  hot  as 
the  breath  of  hell  where  the  Padres  tell  us  all  heretics 
will  go  after  death !  "  The  grim  expression  of  the  Cap 
tain's  face  relaxed  for  a  moment  and  he  turned  toward 
him  with  a  laugh. 


WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE      11 

"  Aye,  who  knows,"  he  replied,  "  we  too,  may  go 
there  some  day,"  and  dismounting,  lie  began  to  loosen 
his  saddle  girths. 

"  The  gods  forbid !  "  answered  Jose,  making  the  sign 
of  the  cross,  as  if  to  ward  off  the  influence  of  some 
evil  spell.  "  I  do  not  understand  you  Americanos,"  he 
continued,  also  dismounting  and  untying  a  small  pack 
at  the  back  of  his  saddle.  "  You  are  strange  —  you 
are  ever  gay  when  you  should  be  sober.  You  laugh 
at  the  gods  and  the  saints  and  frown  at  the  corridos, 
and  yet  toss  alms  to  the  most  worthless  beggar." 

The  foregoing  conversation  was  carried  on  in  Span 
ish.  Although  Jose  had  acquired  a  liberal  smattering 
of  English  during  his  service  with  the  Captain,  he 
nevertheless  detested  it ;  obstinately  adhering  to  Spanish 
which,  though  only  his  mother-tongue  by  adoption, 
was  in  his  estimation  at  least  a  language  for  Cabal- 
leros. 

The  two  men  were  superb  specimens  of  their  respec 
tive  races.  Their  rugged  appearance,  height  and 
breadth  of  shoulder  would  have  attracted  attention  any 
where.  The  Captain  wore  a  gray  felt  hat  and  a  rough 
gray  suit  of  tweed  —  his  trousers  tucked  in  his  long 
riding  boots.  Jose  was  clad  in  the  typical  vaquero's 
costume  —  buff  leggins  and  jacket  of  goat-skin,  slashed 
and  ornamented  with  silver  threads  and  buttons,  and  a 
red  worsted  sash  about  his  middle  in  which  he  carried 
a  knife  and  pistol.  From  beneath  the  broad  brim  of 
his  sombrero  peeped  the  knot  of  the  yellow  silken  ker 
chief  which  he  wore  bound  about  his  head  and  under 
which  lay  coiled  his  long  black  hair. 


12  WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE 

Captain  Forest  was  unusually  tall  and  stalwart,  deep 
chested  and  robust  in  appearance,  with  not  a  super 
fluous  ounce  of  flesh  on  his  body,  hardened  by  the  rigors 
of  long  months  of  camp-life.  His  head  was  large  and 
shapely,  well  poised  and  carried  high  on  a  full  neck  that 
sprang  from  the  great  breadth  of  his  shoulders.  His 
face,  smooth  and  sensitive,  and  large  and  regular  in 
feature  with  high  cheek-bones  and  slightly  hollowed 
cheeks,  was  bronzed  by  long  exposure  to  the  sun  and 
weather,  adding  to  the  ruggedness  of  his  appearance. 
The  high  arching  forehead,  acquiline  nose  and  firm  set 
mouth  and  chin  denoted  alertness,  action  and  decision, 
while  from  his  eyes,  large  and  dark  and  piercing,  shone 
that  strange  light  so  characteristic  of  the  dreamer  and 
genius.  And  yet,  in  spite  of  this  alertness  of  mind  and 
body  and  general  appearance  of  strength  and  power 
which  his  presence  inspired,  there  lurked  about  him 
an  air  of  repose  indicative  of  confidence  in  self  and 
the  full  knowledge  of  his  powers.  Sensitive  to  a  degree, 
keen  and  alive  at  all  times,  the  strength  of  his  person 
ality,  suggestive  of  his  mastery  over  men,  impressed 
the  most  unobservant.  Yet  owing  to  his  poise  and  self- 
control  those  about  him  did  not  realize  wholly  his  power 
until  such  moments  when  justice  was  violated.  Then 
the  latent  force  within  him  asserted  itself  and  he  be 
came  as  inexorable  as  a  law  of  nature  in  his  demands. 
An  intense  spirit  of  democracy  oddly  combined  with 
fastidiousness  made  an  unusual  and  attractive  person 
ality  in  which  the  mundane  and  the  spiritual  were 
strangely  blended.  Outwardly  he  was  a  man  of  the 
world,  yet  inwardly  he  had  advanced  so  far  into  the 


WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE  13 

domain  of  sheer  spirituality  he  scarcely  realized  that 
others  groped  their  way  among  the  most  obvious  ma 
terial  modes  of  expression. 

Having  removed  their  saddles  and  turned  their  horses 
loose  to  find  what  scant  cropping  the  desert  afforded, 
the  two  sought  the  shelter  of  the  narrow  strip  of  shade 
beside  the  spring  at  the  foot  of  the  mesa.  Here  they 
would  rest  until  the  heat  of  the  day  had  passed,  resum 
ing  their  journey  that  evening.  Jose  unwound  his 
zerape  from  his  shoulders  and  spreading  it  on  the 
ground  between  them,  deposited  two  tin  cups  and  a 
package  of  sandwiches  upon  it  which,  with  the  addition 
of  a  flask  of  aguardiente  which  the  Captain  drew  from 
his  pocket,  formed  their  meal. 

Two  years  previous  the  Captain  had  rescued  his  com 
panion  from  a  street  mob  in  Hermosillo,  the  result  of  a 
feud  that  had  broken  out  between  her  citizens  and  the 
Yaqui  Indians ;  Jose  having  been  mistaken  for  one  of 
the  latter.  With  his  back  against  a  wall  and  the  blood 
streaming  from  his  wounds,  he  was  making  a  desperate 
stand.  Three  citizens  who  had  run  upon  his  knife,  lay 
squirming  at  his  feet ;  but  the  odds  were  too  great.  In 
another  moment  all  would  have  been  over  with  him  had 
it  not  been  for  the  Captain  who  chanced  upon  him  in 
the  nick  of  time.  Snatching  a  club  from  one  of  his  as 
sailants  and  accompanying  each  blow  with  a  volley  of 
Spanish  oaths,  he  rushed  through  the  mob,  scattering  it 
in  all  directions.  Whether  it  was  the  oaths  or  the  Cap 
tain's  exhibition  of  his  fighting  qualities  that  impressed 
Jose  most  it  is  difficult  to  say.  Be  that  as  it  may,  from 
that  hour  he  belonged  to  Captain  Forest  body  and  soul. 


14  WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE 

He  was  the  grand  sefior,  the  Hidalgo,  in  comparison  to 
whom  other  men  were  as  nothing. 

The  meal  over,  Jose  with  head  and  shoulders  on  one 
end  of  the  zerape,  stretched  himself  at  full  length  upon 
the  ground  and,  as  was  his  wont,  fell  asleep  almost  im 
mediately.  Captain  Forest  swallowed  a  last  draught  of 
liquor.  Then  leisurely  rolling  a  cigarette  he  lit  it,  and 
with  back  against  the  cliff  and  gaze  fixed  abstractedly 
on  the  mountains  opposite,  smoked  in  silence. 


II 

JACK  FOREST'S  life  was  rich  and  full  to  overflow 
ing  with  the  things  of  this  world  which  are  generally 
considered  to  make  for  happiness  and  culture.  Into 
the  measure  of  his  life,  the  comparatively  short  span  of 
thirty-five  years,  had  been  crowded  a  wealth  of  incident 
and  experience  that  seldom  falls  to  the  lot  of  the  most 
fortunate  men  in  this  commercialized  era  whose  tendency 
is  to  pull  nations  like  individuals  down  to  a  common  level 
of  mediocrity,  and  seems  bent  upon  extinguishing  even 
their  few  remaining  national  traits  and  characteristics. 
Born  in  Washington  and  a  graduate  of  Harvard,  he 
had  traveled  to  the  four  corners  of  the  earth,  and  hunted 
big  game  from  the  arctic  circle  to  the  equator.  Dur 
ing  a  winter's  sojourn  in  Egypt  he  made  the  acquaint 
ance  of  Lord  X ,  then  Consul-General  of  Egypt, 

upon  whose  advice  he  entered  the  diplomatic  service  of 
his  country.  Five  years  were  subsequently  spent  as  first 
Secretary  of  the  American  legations  in  London  and  St. 
Petersburg.  The  enthusiasm  with  which  he  threw  him 
self  into  the  work  and  the  natural  executive  ability 
which  he  displayed  soon  marked  him  as  a  coming  man 
in  diplomatic  circles.  But  the  speculations  of  his  friends 
concerning  his  future  career  were  destined  to  be  rudely 
shattered  by  one  of  those  inexplicable  tricks  of  fate 

15 


16  WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE 

which,  in  the  twinkling  of  an  eye,  so  often  change  the 
lives  of  individuals. 

The  spirit  of  adventure  which  had  lain  dormant  within 
him  ever  since  his  decision  to  adopt  diplomacy  as  a  pro 
fession  was  suddenly  awakened  by  the  outbreak  of  hos 
tilities  between  Spain  and  the  United  States.  Through 
the  influence  of  his  father,  General  Forest,  a  Civil  War 
veteran,  and  that  of  his  uncle,  Colonel  Van  Ashton,  re 
tired,  he  received  the  appointment  of  Second  Lieutenant 
of  Volunteers  and  shipped  with  his  regiment  for  Cuba. 
He  was  wounded  at  the  battle  of  Santiago,  though  not 
seriously.  At  the  close  of  the  campaign  in  the  West  In 
dies  his  regiment  was  ordered  to  the  Philippines,  where, 
at  the  end  of  a  year,  he  was  promoted  to  a  captaincy 
in  the  regular  army.  At  this  juncture  in  his  career 
the  sudden  death  of  his  father  necessitated  his  return 
to  America  on  leave  of  absence. 

The  estate  to  which  he  and  his  mother  fell  heirs  was 
an  unusually  large  one,  the  administration  of  which  de 
manded  his  immediate  and  entire  attention  if  they  wished 
to  keep  their  holdings  intact.  But  as  this  was  clearly 
incompatible  to  the  life  of  a  soldier,  he  was  forced  to 
resign  from  the  army.  He  took  this  step  without  great 
reluctance,  for  brief  though  his  career  as  a  soldier  had 
been,  it  was  a  brilliant  and  satisfactory  one.  It  was 
not  for  the  glory  of  the  profession  that  he  had  entered 
the  army,  but  purely  in  the  spirit  of  the  patriot;  and 
he  had  fought  his  battles  and  returned  with  newly  won 
laurels  and  a  fund  of  interesting  experiences.  Besides, 
campaigning  in  the  Philippines  had  convinced  him  that 
diplomacy,  though  perhaps  not  always  so  exciting,  was 


WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE  17 

preferable  to  a  life  whose  daily  routine  was  enlivened 
only  by  target  practice,  dress-parades  and  the  occasional 
diversion  of  chasing  naked  men  about  in  the  bush. 

As  soon  as  the  estate  was  settled  it  was  his  inten 
tion  to  reenter  the  diplomatic  service  for  which  he  knew 
himself  to  be  better  fitted  than  before  his  two  years 
experience  in  the  army. 

The  bulk  of  the  fortune  consisted  of  mines  in  Mexico, 
whither  he  was  called  to  superintend  his  interests.  At 
the  end  of  a  year,  however,  he  received  word  from  his 
uncle  informing  him  that  the  Ministry  to  Greece  would 
be  open  to  him  if  he  chose  to  accept  it.  Jubilant  over 
the  prospect  of  reentering  the  world  of  Diplomacy  so 
soon,  he  immediately  telegraphed  his  acceptance,  and 
the  following  day  addressed  a  letter  to  the  girl  he  had 
known  from  his  youth,  Blanch  Lennox,  whose  character, 
personal  charm  and  ambition  marked  her  as  the  one  to 
share  the  future  with  him.  There  was  as  little  doubt 
in  his  mind  that  she  would  accept  him,  as  there  was 
in  hers  that  he  would  make  the  proposal;  and  when  a 
week  later,  he  received  a  telegram  confirming  his  con 
jecture,  the  answer  came  as  a  matter  of  course. 

The  business  at  the  mines  was  settled,  but  Mexico 
and  her  people  were  a  new  experience.  Its  vast  ex 
panse  of  plains,  virgin  forests  and  wild  sierras  lured 
him  on;  and  in  the  company  of  a  friend  whose  ac 
quaintance  he  had  made  at  the  mines,  he  passed  the  re 
maining  time  left  at  his  disposal  traveling  in  the  in 
terior  of  the  country,  gathering  data  and  visiting  the 
wild  tribes  who,  though  of  the  same  blood,  were  in 
characteristics  a  distinct  people  from  the  slavish  peon 


18 

classes.  A  people  that  have  never  actually  submitted  to 
the  rule  of  the  White  man,  and  have  held  tenaciously 
to  the  ancient  beliefs  and  customs  of  their  forefathers. 

He  was  impressed  by  the  fact  that,  although  living 
entirely  independent  of  the  outside  world,  they  were 
nevertheless  self-supporting  and  in  certain  instances  had 
developed  marked  degrees  of  civilization. 

He  saw  how  they  tended  their  flocks  and  fields,  made 
their  own  clothes  and  articles  of  use,  and  wrought  gold 
and  silver  ornaments  embellished  with  native  stones,  and 
used  the  bow  and  arrow  in  the  chase.  They  knew  noth 
ing  of  modern  civilization.  Their  daily  lives  were  suffi 
cient  unto  them,  and  they  were  therefore  happy.  God 
seemed  infinite  and  dwelt  in  their  midst,  and  spoke  to 
them  from  the  dust  as  well  as  from  the  stars.  But  why 
was  this?  Why  was  life  for  them,  in  the  natural  course 
of  events,  so  easy  and  simple,  and  so  difficult  and  com 
plicated  for  the  civilized  man? 

His  thoughts  continually  traveled  back  to  the  Eskimo 
of  the  frozen  North,  and  to  Africa  and  her  sun-parched 
deserts  and  star-strewn  skies  with  the  roaming  Bedouin 
in  the  background  who  regarded  the  earth  as  a  foot 
stool  to  be  used  only  as  a  means  to  an  end  and  houses 
as  habitations  fit  only  for  slaves. 

The  picture  he  saw  was  not  the  ideal  one  —  the 
emancipated  man  of  whom  men  of  all  times  have  dreamed 
and  to  whose  advent  some  men  are  still  looking  forward. 
But  the  care-free  life  of  the  primitive  man  set  him  think 
ing  —  opened  his  eyes  to  certain  truths  which,  until 
now,  he  had  failed  to  observe.  Longings  for  the  un 
attainable  began  to  stir  within  him  and  take  hold  of  him 


WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE     19 

in  a  manner  entirely  new.  Hazy,  fragmentary  glimpses 
of  hitherto  undreamed  possibilities  began  to  shape  them 
selves  in  his  mind.  The  immensity  and  profundity  of 
the  universe  and  the  mysterious  growth  of  its  hidden  life 
held  and  enthralled  him. 

The  last  word,  he  felt,  had  not  yet  been  spoken.  There 
was  something  lacking  in  the  so-called  civilized  man's 
economy  —  a  lack  which  his  philosophy  failed  to  ac 
count  for,  but  which  was  not  observable  among  animals 
and  primitive  men.  There,  the  economy  of  the  infinite 
cosmic  mechanism  which  binds  and  holds  all  manifesta 
tions  of  life  in  one  harmonious  whole  was  too  apparent 
to  even  suggest  the  detachment  of  a  single  form  of  life 
from  this  whole,  but  with  the  civilized  man  it  was  dif 
ferent.  He  alone  seemed  to  have  detached  himself  from 
this  harmonious  whole  —  his  life  stood  out  as  a  thing 
separate  and  apart  from  it.  There  seemed  to  be 
no  permanent  place  for  him  in  the  economy  of  na 
ture. 

But  how  had  this  estrangement  taken  place?  Why 
was  he,  the  intellectually  developed  man,  incapable  of 
living  in  harmony  with  the  universal  law  of  life  when  it 
was  so  easy  for  the  primitive  man  to  do  so?  It  was 
evident  that  he  had  lost  his  way  somewhere  along  the 
path  of  normal  development.  Everything  pointed  to  this 
—  its  signs  were  apparent  to  all  who  wished  to  see.  Na 
ture  voiced  it  on  every  hand,  in  the  forests  and  plains 
and  on  the  mountain  tops,  and  during  the  silence  of 
night  as  he  lay  on  the  ground  gazing  at  the  stars  over 
head. 

The  wind  that  sighed  among  the  ruined  temples  of 


20  WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE 

the  ancient  races  and  the  mountains  that  looked  down 
upon  them  seemed  to  speak  to  him  in  the  ever  recurring 
refrain :  "  Behold  the  works  and  glories  of  men  —  we 
are  enduring!  The  same  wind  that  sighs  among  them 
this  day,  sang  to  them  when  their  walls  and  pillars 
stood  erect.  The  same  mountains  that  shadowed  them 
in  the  past,  will  still  stand  guard  over  the  valleys 
in  the  days  to  come  when  the  works  of  the  present 
and  future  generations  of  men  have  passed  away  for 
ever  ! " 

He  knew  that  these  questions  had  been  asked  during 
countless  generations,  and  that  men  were  still  asking 
them  to-day.  He  knew  also  that  man's  situation  in  the 
universe  was  taking  on  a  new  aspect,  and  yet  it  was 
strange  that  such  thoughts  should  absorb  him,  a  man  of 
the  world,  of  the  fighting  type,  whose  wide  experience 
with  men  and  things  had  hitherto  convinced  him  that  the 
world,  though  not  perfect,  was  good  —  that  present 
progress  made  for  good,  and  the  best  western  civiliza 
tion  had  thus  far  attained  was  probably  about  all  men 
of  the  future  could  look  forward  to  so  far  as  happiness 
was  concerned.  These  views,  however,  were  no  longer 
tenable  if  our  arts,  philosophies  and  scientific  attain 
ments  fail  to  civilize  and  refine  us.  Clearly,  modern 
man's  conception  of  ethical  progress  was  as  deficient  in 
certain  respects  as  that  of  the  great  historic  civilizations. 
The  secret  of  right  living  had  not  yet  been  discovered. 
History  proved  this,  and  unless  the  trend  of  modern 
materialistic  tendencies  was  supplanted  by  something 
higher,  the  same  fate  that  overtook  the  Ancients  must 
inevitably  overtake  us. 


WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE  21 

But  the  date  of  their  wedding  had  been  set,  and  the 
time  for  their  departure  for  Athens  was  drawing  nearer. 
Santa  Fe  lay  a  day's  ride  from  the  railroad.  Instead 
of  performing  the  journey  in  a  single  ride,  he  decided 
to  pass  the  night  at  the  hacienda  of  a  friend,  Don  Felix 
de  Tovar,  some  twelve  miles  distant  from  the  old  Span 
ish  town.  Thither  he  would  ride  during  the  cool  of 
the  evening,  completing  the  remainder  of  the  journey  the 
following  day.  Between  Santa  Fe  and  Don  Felix's 
hacienda  lay  the  Indian  pueblo,  La  Jara,  situated  some 
distance  off  the  main  road.  By  following  the  trail  that 
led  past  this  village,  Jose  explained,  they  would  reduce 
the  distance  to  Don  Felix's  rancho  by  at  least  two  or 
three  miles. 

The  country  through  which  they  traveled  was  broken 
and  rugged.  Twilight  had  descended  upon  the  land,  and 
as  the  two,  following  the  trail  that  skirted  the  foothills, 
rode  to  the  crest  of  the  mesa  upon  which  the  village 
was  situated,  they  came  suddenly  upon  a  woman  riding 
at  full  gallop.  The  soft,  sandy  formation  of  the  soil 
was  such  that  neither  heard  the  approach  of  the  other, 
and  all  three  reined  in  their  horses  with  a  jerk;  the 
woman  throwing  hers  well  back  upon  its  haunches;  a 
high-strung,  black,  wiry  animal  whose  foam-flecked 
mouth  and  breast  told  that  she  had  been  riding  hard. 

How  free  and  wild  she  looked!  She  was  either  a 
Spaniard  or  an  Indian,  and  rode  astride.  A  bunch  of 
red  berries  adorned  her  heavy  black  hair  which  fell  in 
masses  about  her  shoulders,  accentuating  the  curve  of 
her  throat  and  well- formed,  clear-cut  features  just  dis 
cernible  in  the  waning  light  as  she  sat  motionless  and 


22  WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE 

erect  on  her  horse,  gazing  at  him  in  silence  and  evidently 
as  much  surprised  as  he  was  by  their  sudden  encounter. 
Then  with  a  smile  and  a  nod  of  the  head  by  way  of 
acknowledgment,  she  lifted  her  reins  and  spurred  past 
him;  disappearing  in  the  gathering  darkness  on  the  trail 
below  them.  Her  unexpected  appearance  and  grace  and 
type  of  beauty,  so  different  from  that  of  the  woman 
who  occupied  his  thoughts,  thrilled  him  for  the  moment 
as  he  listened  to  the  soft,  muffled  hoof-beats  of  her  horse 
which  grew  fainter  and  fainter  until  all  was  silence,  save 
for  the  sighing  of  the  wind  among  the  mesquit  and 
manzanita  bushes  that  grew  about  them.  All  trace  of 
her  was  gone.  She  had  vanished  into  the  night  as  swiftly 
as  she  had  come. 

Then  a  strange  thing  happened.  Something  suddenly 
gripped  his  heart;  that  indefinable  something  after 
which  he  had  been  groping  and  which  had  been  knock 
ing  so  persistently  at  the  portals  of  his  inmost  being, 
but  which  until  now  had  eluded  him.  The  sight  of  that 
strange  woman  had  shown  him  that,  to  be  beautiful  is 
to  be  free  and  natural.  That  the  world  he  knew  and  re 
vered  was  purely  an  artificial  world  of  man's  invention, 
transitory  and  a  thing  apart  from  the  universal  life  in 
the  midst  of  which  he  had  been  placed  and  apart  from 
which  it  was  impossible  for  him  to  develop  naturally. 
That  nature  is  more  perfect  than  all  the  artificialities 
of  civilization  and  a  more  efficient  environment  for  the 
normal  development  of  man.  That  man's  happiness  and 
true  relationship  to  the  universe  were  attainable  only 
through  direct  contact  and  communion  with  this  life 
whose  creations  are  the  only  great  and  lasting  realities. 


WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE  23 

Thus  only  was  it  possible  for  him  to  quicken  and  vitalize 
his  powers  to  their  fullest.  That  when  creation  finished 
its  task,  peace  and  harmony  reigned  in  the  midst  of  the 
terrestrial  garden,  rendering  man's  pursuit  of  happiness 
through  diverse  acts  and  infinite  forms  of  diversion  quite 
unnecessary. 

He  had  discovered  the  wild  man's  secret  —  why  the 
stars  still  sing  to  him  as  of  yore  —  why  the  winds  and 
the  waters,  the  animals  and  the  rocks  and  the  trees 
still  speak  to  him  in  harmonies  long  since  forgotten 
by  civilized  man.  A  great  and  secret  joy,  such  as  he 
had  never  before  experienced,  filled  his  soul;  uplifting, 
consuming  and  mastering  him.  .  .  .  But  what  would 
Blanch  Lennox  say?  She  with  whose  inner  life  he  felt 
in  perfect  accord?  She  who  was  his  ideal,  the  inspira 
tion  of  his  eager  youth  and  well-spring  of  his  ambitions 
of  later  years?  The  woman  who  always  met  his  prob 
lems  with  quick  sympathy  and  comprehending  interest? 
Could  she  understand  him  now,  sympathize  with  his  new 
views  of  life?  He  knew  a  battle  royal  would  ensue 
between  them,  but  felt  confident  of  his  power  to  con 
vince  her.  He  found,  however,  upon  his  return  to  New 
port  where  she  awaited  him,  that  he  had  reckoned 
without  his  host.  She  attributed  his  enthusiasm  and 
changed  convictions  to  his  ardent  love  of  nature  and  the 
roving  spirit  that  animated  him,  but  could  not  be  con 
vinced  that  the  world  of  society  in  which  she  moved  and 
shone  and  for  whose  adulation  she  lived,  was  the  lesser 
world.  She  refused  to  relinquish  their  present  life  so 
full  of  the  things  of  this  world,  the  only  realities  which 
she  knew  or  recognized,  for  some  vague  uncertainty. 


24  WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE 

Surely  the  wanderlust,  the  love  of  the  primitive,  had 
gotten  into  his  blood! 

At  first  she  laughed  scornfully,  then  hysterically. 

"  Was  he  mad  to  suggest  such  folly  —  imagine  that 
she  could  even  dream  of  participating  in  such  a  life? 
He  might  give  up  the  ambition  of  a  lifetime,  fling  aside 
a  brilliant  career  to  follow  the  path  of  his  mad  fancy 
if  he  chose,  but  she  would  not  be  a  partner  to  his  folly !  " 

Again  he  noted  her  set  lips  and  the  pallor  that  suc 
ceeded  the  flush  on  her  cheeks  after  her  first  furious 
outburst.  Again  he  saw  her  as  she  rose,  pale  and 
trembling,  her  eyes  blazing. 

"  And  you  dare  come  to  me  with  this  after  all  the 
years  I  have  waited  for  you?  Go  back  to  your  deserts 
—  your  wild  woman  and  her  land  of  savages !  "  she  had 
cried  in  a  voice  of  suppressed  indignation  and  contempt. 
After  all  he  could  not  blame  her,  knowing  as  he  did  the 
world  in  which  she  had  been  reared.  She  was  right. 
And  yet,  as  he  sat  there  in  the  desert  with  his  back  to 
the  cliff  and  smoked  in  silence,  living  over  again  the 
poignant  memories  of  the  past,  the  bitterness  he  ex 
perienced  at  the  moment  was  even  keener  than  on  that 
memorable  night  when  they  had  parted. 

Could  he  ever  forget  her?  The  memory  of  that 
night  clung  to  him  in  spite  of  every  effort  to  banish 
it  from  his  mind. 

Above  them  shone  the  stars,  golden  as  the  apples  of 
Hesperides.  He  heard  again  the  rhythmic  sound  of  the 
sea  and  the  plashing  of  the  fountain  near  at  hand,  and 
noted  the  rose  petals  which  the  breeze  had  shaken  from 
the  bushes  to  the  path  where  they  stood;  filling  the 


WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE  25 

soft  night  air  wfth  their  fragrance,  and  she,  with  the 
white  moonlight  in  her  face  and  the  pink  rose  in 
the  golden  wreath  of  her  hair,  fair  as  the  woman  of 
Eden. 

The  vision  passed  before  him  in  kaleidoscopic  review, 
warm  and  living  and  tempting  and  haunting,  and  then 
faded  from  his  sight. 

The  shadows  of  evening  began  to  lengthen.  Close 
at  hand  a  lizard  that  had  been  sunning  itself  all  day 
against  the  cliff  raised  its  head  for  an  instant,  then 
slipped  noiselessly  away  with  the  shadows  into  a 
crevice  in  the  rock.  The  Indian  camp-fires  flickered 
in  the  valley  below,  their  slender,  ghostlike  columns 
of  smoke,  rising  heavenward  straight  as  the  flight  of 
a  flock  of  cranes,  floated  away  in  a  pale,  blue  white 
cloud  on  the  evening.  The  soft,  plaintive  notes  of  the 
night-hawk  and  prairie-owl  mingled  with  the  prolonged 
cry  of  the  wolf  in  the  distant  foothills.  The  night 
breeze  sprang  up,  fanning  the  parched  desert  with  its 
cool  breath.  The  stars  came  forth  and  the  silver  rim 
of  the  moon  emerged  above  the  dark  towering  mass  of 
the  Sierra  Madres,  outlining  their  crests  in  broken 
silvery  lines  as  its  full  white  disk  swept  into  view ;  flood 
ing  the  valley  and  plains  with  strange  ethereal  light. 

Jose's  sleep  seemed  troubled.  He  moved  uneasily 
and  muttered  incoherently. 

Where  was  she  now  —  what  was  she  doing?  The 
woman  he  still  loved  in  spite  of  himself?  And  whither 
was  he  drifting  —  what  was  the  real  end  in  view? 
What  subtle,  irresistible  influence  was  it  that  impelled 
him  to  take  the  step,  sacrifice  all  that  men  prize  and 


26  WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE 

hold  dear?  During  such  moments  he  questioned  the 
seemingly  blind  destiny  by  which  he  felt  himself  im 
pelled.  A  thousand  miles  he  had  ridden  in  search  of  the 
realization  of  his  dreams,  but  had  not  found  it.  That 
which  at  first  had  lured  him  on,  now  seemed  to  mock  him. 
The  vision  that  beckoned  to  him  still  maintained  a 
sphinx-like  attitude  toward  his  questioning. 

Where  was  the  new  life  he  had  promised  himself? 
Was  it  only  a  vision  he  had  conjured  up  in  his  mind? 
Either  he  had  overlooked  something  in  his  calculations, 
or  his  logic  was  at  fault. 

Was  this  all?  Had  the  human  race  attained  its 
zenith  —  was  there  nothing  beyond,  nothing  to  look 
forward  to,  and  he  merely  the  latest  dreamer  and  en 
thusiast  who  was  pursuing  the  same  will-o'-the-wisp  that 
others  had  sought  through  the  ages?  If  so,  then  what 
fatality  was  it  that  encompassed  him  and  continually 
urged  him  on?  Doubt  counseled  him  to  return,  but 
pride  and  confidence  in  self  still  cried  forward.  Come 
what  would,  he  either  must  go  on  to  the  end  or  accept 
the  humiliation  that  awaits  him  who  turns  back.  But 
why  was  the  realization  withheld  from  one  so  willing 
—  from  one  who  had  dared  face  the  world  alone? 

For  the  first  time  the  loneliness  and  isolation  of  his 
life  was  borne  in  upon  him  as  he  reviewed  the  past, 
step  by  step,  and  thought  of  the  woman  he  had  chosen 
to  share  the  future  with  him  and  whom  it  was  impos 
sible  to  disassociate  from  his  plans. 

Fortune  seemed  to  have  deserted  him.  A  sudden 
revulsion  and  sickening  sense  of  failure  swept  over  him, 
crushing  and  overwhelming  him.  Would  the  voices 


WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE  27 

never  break  silence?  Must  he  forever  ride  alone  with 
the  sun  in  his  face?  Save  for  a  cricket  that  chirped 
dreamily  in  a  cleft  of  the  rock  close  at  hand,  and 
the  distant,  subdued  sounds  of  voices  and  barking  of 
dogs  in  the  Indian  camps  below  him,  there  was  no  re 
sponse  to  his  query. 

Strange  that  he,  Jack  Forest,  the  possessor  of  twenty 
millions,  the  associate  of  the  great  people  of  this  world, 
and  who  was  never  referred  to  by  his  family  and  friends 
as  other  than  the  Magnificent,  the  man  who  did  things, 
should  find  himself  in  the  heart  of  the  Mexican  deserts 
apparently  as  far  from  his  goal  as  when  he  started. 
It  was  incredible,  but  true,  nevertheless.  For  was  he 
not  there  in  the  midst  of  the  wilderness  with  the  scent 
of  the  sage  in  his  nostrils  and  the  alkali  dust  on  his 
boots? 

He  closed  his  eyes  and  let  his  head  sink  forward  on 
his  breast,  wearied  by  the  oft-repeated  endeavor  to 
solve  that  which  was  fast  becoming  a  riddle,  a  chimera 
to  him,  and  he  probably  would  have  fallen  asleep  had 
he  not  been  startled  suddenly  into  a  consciousness  of 
his  surroundings  by  a  low  whinny;  soft  and  plaintive 
as  a  child's  voice.  Looking  up,  he  saw  Starlight  stand 
ing  before  him  with  ears  erect  and  pointed  forward, 
gazing  inquiringly  into  his  face. 

Again  the  Chestnut  whinnied,  and  lowering  his  head, 
caressed  his  shoulder  affectionately  with  his  nose. 
Then  raising  his  head,  he  began  to  paw  the  ground  im 
patiently,  indicating  as  plainly  as  words  that  it  was 
time  to  resume  their  journey. 

The  night  wind  sighed  across  the  desert  and  there 


28  WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE 

was  a  chill  in  the  air  as  the  moon  mounted  higher  hi 
the  heavens ;  an  ideal  night  for  travel.  Jose  awoke  with 
a  start  and  sitting  bolt  upright  on  the  ground,  gazed 
about  him  with  a  dazed,  bewildered  air,  trying  to  collect 
his  scattered  senses. 

"  Capitan!  "  he  cried,  regarding  him  intently.  "  I 
have  just  dreamt  that  the  shadow  of  a  man  came  be 
tween  you  and  a  woman !  I  can't  see  their  faces, 
but  they  are  there !  " 

"  Bah!  "  returned  the  Captain,  rising  to  his  feet  and 
stretching  wide  his  arms,  preparatory  to  saddling  his 
horse.  "  'Tis  only  the  aguardiente,  Jose !  " 

"Ah!  do  not  jest,  Capitan!  Three  times  have  I 
dreamed  this  dream  —  the  shadow  comes  ever  nearer !  " 


Ill 


Fiesta,  the  "  Feast  of  the  Corn,"  had  been  de- 
•*•  clared,  and  there  was  dancing  and  feasting,  and 
song  and  laughter  on  the  lips  of  men  as  Captain  Forest 
and  Jose  rode  into  Santa  Fe  late  the  following  morning 
and  turned  their  horses'  heads  in  the  direction  of  the 
Posada  de  las  Estrellas,  the  Inn  of  the  Stars,  which  was 
situated  just  outside  the  principal  entrance  to  the  town. 

The  low  gray  adobe  walls  of  the  houses  fronting 
directly  upon  the  narrow  winding  streets  leading  to  and 
from  the  plaza  were  gay  with  the  blossoms  of  the  pink 
and  scarlet  geranium,  honeysuckle,  and  gorgeous  ma 
genta  of  the  bougainvillea  and  golden  cups  of  the  trum 
pet-vine. 

Pigeons  fluttered  from  the  house-tops  to  the  streets, 
or  hovered  about  the  plaza  and  bosky  alamedas  of  pop 
lar,  pepper  and  eucalyptus  trees  in  search  of  stray  grains 
of  corn.  Humming-birds  and  butterflies  flashed  their 
wings  and  gorgeous  plumage  in  the  sunshine  as  they 
darted  in  and  out  among  the  foliage  in  the  patios  and 
gardens  at  the  rear  of  the  houses,  luxuriant  with  fruit 
and  flowers  as  was  attested  by  the  orange  and  lemon, 
pomegranate  and  fig  trees,  heavy  with  ripening  fruit  and 
the  delicately  mingled  perfume  of  orange  and  lemon 
blossoms,  hyacinth,  jasmine  and  Castilian  rose. 

Through  the  center  of  the  town,  beneath  the  walls 
29 


30 

of  the  half-ruined  convent,  flowed  the  little  river,  Santa 
Maria,  at  whose  banks  young  girls  and  women  were 
wont  to  wash  their  linen  and  beat  it  out  on  the  large, 
smooth  stones  which  lay  strewn  along  the  water's  edge. 
The  notes  of  the  wood-dove  and  oriole  mingling  with 
the  silvery  voice  of  the  river,  fell  in  rhythmical  cadences 
upon  the  ears  of  the  inhabitants  who  rested  in  the  shady 
seclusion  of  their  patios  and  gardens  during  the  hour  of 
the  siesta;  rolling  and  smoking  cigarillos  as  they 
leisurely  discussed  the  latest  bit  of  news  or  gossip  over 
their  black  coffee,  mescal  and  tequila,  or  engaged  in  a 
game  of  moles. 

There  had  been  much  rain  that  season,  the  best  of 
reasons  why  the  people  should  give  thanks  to  the  heav 
ens  and  the  fields  receive  the  blessing  of  the  Church  as 
well  as  that  of  the  gods  of  the  Indios  at  whose  altars 
the  Red  men  still  worship  and  upon  which  still  is  writ 
ten  "  blood  for  blood,"  as  in  the  days  when  the  White 
men  first  came  from  the  South,  bearing  the  fire  and 
thunderbolts  of  heaven  with  which  they  overthrew  them. 
This  was  in  fulfillment  of  the  curse  which  the  people 
had  brought  upon  themselves.  The  fate  which  their  an 
cient  Sachems  had  foretold  would  overtake  them  in  those 
days  when  they  should  forget  the  commands  of  the 
gods  and  neglect  the  land,  and  the  hand  of  brother 
be  lifted  against  brother  until  the  coming  of  a  Fair 
Child  with  a  face  like  the  sun  unto  whose  words  all 
men  would  hearken  and  their  hearts  be  united  in  love. 

According  to  custom,  runners  had  been  sent  forth 
to  the  north,  east,  south  and  west  to  proclaim  the  an 
nual  Fiesta.  For  this  ceremony  the  choicest  ears  were 


WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE  31 

selected  from  the  new  harvest,  and,  after  being  borne 
aloft  in  the  procession  that  took  place  during  the  bene 
diction  of  the  fields,  were  placed  in  the  churches  where 
they  remained  until  the  following  year.  The  golden 
ears  represented  the  sunrise,  the  red,  the  sunset,  the 
blue,  the  sky,  the  white,  the  clouds,  and  all  together, 
their  Mother,  the  Earth,  from  which  they  sprang. 

As  the  season  for  rejoicing  drew  near,  the  rancheros 
of  the  neighboring  haciendas,  together  with  the  Indians 
of  the  distant  pueblos  and  half-wild  hill  tribes,  chance 
strangers  and  adventurers,  streamed  toward  Santa  Fe 
and  swarmed  within  her  walls ;  some  eager  for  trade  and 
barter,  but  most  of  them  bent  upon  pleasure.  Her 
streets  and  plazas  became  a  surging  mass  of  struggling 
humanity,  bright  with  the  gay  costumes  of  men  and 
women.  In  her  market-booths  were  displayed  innumer 
able  commodities ;  animals,  fruit,  vegetables,  fowl  — 
flowers,  goldfish,  caged  finches,  canaries  —  jewelry, 
rugs,  stamped  leathers  and  drawn-linen  work  —  bright 
cloths,  blankets,  baskets  and  pottery  —  wines,  laces, 
silks,  satins,  cigarettes  and  cigars. 

Bidding  was  brisk  and  at  times  vehement,  but  always 
good  humored.  Sellers  of  lottery-tickets,  writers  of  love- 
letters,  jugglers  and  mountebanks  plied  their  trades. 
The  cries  of  the  water-carrier  and  vender  of  sweet-meats 
mingled  with  those  of  the  inevitable  beggar  who  asked 
alms  for  the  love  of  God;  invoking  blessings  or  curses 
upon  the  head  of  him  who  gave  or  refused  him  a  centavo. 
Babel  reigned.  Donkies  brayed,  geese  and  turkeys  hissed 
and  gobbled,  chickens  cackled  and  fighting-cocks,  teth 
ered  by  the  leg,  strutted  and  crowed,  while  brown 


32  WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE 

children  of  all  sizes  and  ages  laughed  and  screamed  as 
they  chased  one  another  in  and  out  among  the  crowds 
or  rolled  in  the  dust  beneath  the  pedestrian's  feet. 

Old  Santa  Fe,  christened  by  the  early  Franciscan 
Friars,  "  City  of  the  Blessed  Faith,"  but  in  reality  a 
fair  wanton,  a  veritable  Sodom  and  Gomorrha  of  iniq 
uity  with  her  corridas,  her  cock-pits  and  dance  and 
gambling-halls,  threw  wide  her  gates  and  bade  the 
stranger  welcome;  and  if  he  did  not  receive  the  worth 
of  his  gold  in  pleasure  and  substance,  surely  it  was 
no  fault  of  Santa  Fe's.  Besides,  it  was  only  a  step 
from  a  gaming-table  to  a  Father  Confessor. 

The  soul  of  old  Spain  still  lived  in  the  land.  The 
click  of  castanettes  was  heard  daily  in  her  plazas  and 
streets  where  the  fandango  and  jotta  were  gayly  danced; 
while  at  night  the  soft  sounds  of  guitars  and  voices 
issued  from  out  the  deep  shadow  of  her  walls.  Soft 
hands  drew  the  latches  of  casements,  and  slender  figures 
stepped  out  upon  moon-lit  balconies  or  beneath  purple 
black  heavens  studded  with  myriads  of  golden  stars, 
and  passionate  words  and  vows  were  exchanged  under 
the  cover  of  night. 

Having  passed  the  day  at  the  Inn  of  the  Stars,  where 
they  had  been  resting  after  the  fatigues  of  the  long 
night's  ride,  the  Captain  and  Jose  again  directed  their 
steps  toward  the  town  in  the  cool  of  the  evening;  Jose 
making  for  Pedro  Romero's  gambling-hall,  the  Cap 
tain  for  Carlos  Moreno's  theater,  the  Theatro  Mexi- 
cano. 

Owing  to  the  tardiness  of  his  arrival,  he  found  the 
house  packed  to  the  doors.  The  performance,  vaude- 


WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE  33 

ville  in  character,  had  already  begun,  and  it  was  only 
after  much  elbowing  and  crowding  that  he  finally  suc 
ceeded  in  making  his  way  to  Carlos'  private  box  where 
the  latter  awaited  him. 

A  tall,  dark  woman  had  just  ceased  dancing,  and 
as  she  paused  before  the  footlights  amid  a  burst  of 
musical  accompaniment,  the  audience  with  one  impulse 
rose  to  its  feet  and  gave  vent  to  prolonged  salvos  of 
applause.  Showers  of  glittering  gold  and  silver  coins, 
bouquets  and  wreaths  of  flowers  were  flung  upon  the 
stage,  burying  her  feet  in  a  wealth  and  suffusion  of 
color  as  she  stood  smiling  and  bowing  before  the  audi 
ence,  vainly  endeavoring  to  still  the  tumultuous  ap 
plause  which  continued  with  deafening  uproar  until 
she  consented  to  repeat  the  performance. 

"  Delicious  —  divine  — 'tis  the  Chiquita,  amigo  mio!  " 
cried  Carlos ;  pausing  in  the  midst  of  his  vivas  to  greet 
the  Captain. 

"  You  shall  know  her  and  fall  in  love  with  her  like 
all  the  rest  of  the  world  — "  but  his  speech  was  cut  short 
by  a  fresh  burst  of  applause  from  the  audience.  The 
floral  tributes  that  had  been  showered  upon  her  were 
hastily  removed  to  one  side  of  the  stage  and  piled  high 
against  the  wings.  The  musicians  struck  up  their  ac 
companiment  and  the  dance  began  again. 

It  was  evident  that  she  was  a  favorite  of  the  audience 
which  perhaps  partially  accounted  for  the  remarkable 
demonstration  with  which  her  performance  was  received. 
But  be  this  as  it  may,  Captain  Forest  felt  that  he  had 
never  witnessed  such  a  remarkable  exhibition  of  subtle 
grace  and  beauty  and  extraordinary  execution  and  dash 


34  WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE 

as  she  displayed  in  the  dance.  He  recalled  the  names 
of  the  famous  dancers  he  had  known,  but  none  of  them 
had  risen  to  such  heights  —  succeeded  in  vitalizing  and 
inspiring  their  art  with  so  much  poetry  and  life. 

To  all  appearance  she  was  either  Spanish  or  of  In 
dian  extraction,  and  yet  there  was  a  foreign  touch 
about  her  that  seemed  to  set  her  apart  from  the  women  of 
Santa  Fe. 

Who  was  she,  this  unknown  genius,  this  master  of 
the  terpsichorean  art,  living  in  this  far  away  Mexican 
town?  Such  talent  could  not  remain  in  obscurity  for 
long.  Another  great  Spanish  dancer  was  about  to  burst 
unheralded  upon  the  world.  It  only  remained  for  her 
to  dance  into  it  —  to  captivate  and  conquer  it. 

This  then,  was  the  surprise  Carlos  had  promised  him 
if  he  came  to  the  theater  that  evening.  His  curiosity 
was  aroused,  and  he  turned  to  him  for  an  explanation, 
but  he  was  no  longer  by  his  side;  he  had  rushed  be 
hind  the  scenes  to  felicitate  the  dancer  on  her  remark 
able  success. 

The  air  was  hot  and  stifling,  and  not  caring  to  wit 
ness  the  remaining  numbers  on  the  programme,  he  took 
advantage  of  the  intermission  that  followed  the  dance 
and  left  the  theater. 

Outside  the  air  was  deliciously  cool.  The  moonlight 
and  myriads  of  artificial  lights  strung  across  the  streets 
and  on  the  fa9ades  of  the  houses,  together  with  the 
flaming  torches  in  front  of  the  many  booths,  lent  the 
appearance  of  day  to  night  as  he  slowly  made  his  way 
through  the  surging  crowds  in  the  direction  of  Pedro 


WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE  35 

Romero's  gambling-hall  where  Carlos  had  agreed  to  join 
him  after  the  performance. 

Pedro's  establishment  was  the  chief  and  only  respect 
able  place  of  its  kind  of  which  the  town  could  boast. 
It  was  the  resort  of  the  better  element  of  Santa  Fe, 
and  if  one  were  looking  for  a  friend  or  acquaintance, 
he  was  usually  to  be  found  there.  The  hall  was  spa 
cious  and  well  lighted  with  electricity  and  resplendent 
in  gilt  and  mirrors. 

The  gay  strains  of  a  string  band  enlivened  the  scene 
as  he  entered.  Clouds  of  tobacco  smoke  hung  over 
the  throngs  that  crowded  round  the  gaming-tables  to 
try  their  luck  with  the  Goddess  Chance. 

Jose  was  playing  roulette,  and  judging  by  the  satis 
fied  expression  of  his  face  which  the  Captain  noted  in 
passing,  he  rightly  conjectured  that  luck  was  on  his 
side. 

Like  Carlos,  Pedro  had  taken  a  great  fancy  to  the 
Captain,  and  had  generously  placed  his  private  stock 
of  wines  and  cigars  at  the  latter's  disposal.  Many  an 
evening  had  the  three  passed  together  smoking  and 
drinking  and  chatting;  Pedro  and  Carlos  listening  with 
rapt  attention  to  the  Captain's  anecdotes  and  adven 
tures  of  which  he  seemed  to  possess  an  inexhaustible 
store.  The  hall  was  greatly  overcrowded,  rendering  it 
difficult  to  find  an  acquaintance,  but  as  the  Captain 
paused  in  the  midst  of  the  tables  in  order  to  obtain 
a  better  view  of  the  faces  about  him,  he  felt  a  touch 
on  the  shoulder  from  behind  and  turning,  saw  Pedro, 
the  object  of  his  search. 


36  WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE 

"  For  Dlos!  but  I'm  glad  to  see  you  again,  amigo!  " 
exclaimed  the  proprietor,  a  dark  little  man  with  a  kindly 
face  pitted  by  the  smallpox.  He  grasped  and  shook 
the  Captain  warmly  by  the  hand. 

"  How  are  you  —  when  did  you  return  ?  "  he  in 
quired  ;  leading  him  to  a  table  in  one  corner  of  the  hall 
around  which  were  seated  a  number  of  his  friends  who, 
on  the  appearance  of  the  Captain,  rose  and  greeted  him 
effusively. 

"  M ozo  —  mozo!  "  shouted  Pedro  to  the  waiter,  "  a 
glass  for  the  Captain  !  " 

The  others  also  had  been  to  the  theater,  and  like 
him,  had  left  during  the  intermission  following  the 
dance.  Naturally  the  dancer  formed  the  sole  topic  of 
conversation. 

"  Had  the  Senor  Capltan  seen  the  Chiquita  —  had 
he  ever  seen  such  dancing  before  —  what  did  he  think 
of  her?  "  And  by  the  time  Carlos  appeared  on  the 
scene,  all  agreed  that  the  latter's  fortune  was  made 
—  that  he  would  soon  desert  the  sleepy  old  town  for 
a  tour  of  the  world  with  his  newly  found  star  of  the 
footlights. 

"  A  tour  of  the  world  —  with  the  Chiquita  ?  "  echoed 
Carlos,  a  fat,  broad-shouldered  little  man  of  mixed 
blood,  pausing  and  pulling  back  a  chair  in  the  act 
of  seating  himself  at  the  table. 

"  Dios!  if  such  a  thing  were  possible,"  he  exclaimed, 
pushing  his  hat  on  the  back  of  his  head  and  surveying 
his  companions  with  critical  eyes,  "  I  would  not  ex 
change  it  for  the  richest  gold  mine  in  Mexico !  But," 
he  added,  seating  himself  at  the  table,  "  you  don't 


WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE  37 

know  the  Chiqulta,  mis  amlgos.  She  is  made  of  dif 
ferent  stuff  than  that  of  the  women  who  dance  for  a 
living." 

To  this  last  remark  the  company  agreed. 

"  Caramba  —  how  she  danced !  "  he  continued,  tak 
ing  a  sip  of  pulque.  "  Had  the  house  been  as  large 
as  the  plaza  and  the  price  of  the  seats  doubled,  there 
would  not  have  been  standing  room  left  to  accommodate 
the  spectators." 

"  Aye !  "  broke  in  Miguel  Torreno,  a  dark,  wizened 
old  Mexican  with  a  face  resembling  a  monkey's,  "  they 
say  a  thousand  people  were  turned  away  at  the  doors." 

"  A  thousand  ?  Half  the  town,  you  mean !  "  returned 
Carlos,  rolling  a  cigarillo  between  the  tips  of  his  stubby 
fingers. 

"  A  pretty  penny  this  dance  of  the  Chiquita's  must 
have  cost  you,  Carlos  Moreno,"  continued  Miguel,  his 
head  cocked  knowingly  on  one  side,  while  he  squinted  over 
the  rim  of  his  glass  between  puffs  of  cigarette  smoke. 

"  Three  thousand  pesos  d'oro"  answered  Carlos. 
"  But  by  the  Virgin,  it  was  worth  it !  " 

"  Three  thousand  pesos  d'oro!  "  ejaculated  his  au 
ditors  with  one  breath.  Old  Miguel  dropped  his  glass 
which  fell  with  a  crash,  scattering  its  contents  and  frag 
ments  over  the  floor. 

"  Three  thousand  pesos  d'oro!  "  he  gasped.  "  Alma 
de  mi  vida!  Soul  of  my  life !  'tis  the  salary  of  a  Bishop ! 
Are  you  mad,  Carlos  Moreno?" 

"  Perhaps.  But  only  Carlos  Moreno  can  afford  to 
pay  such  salaries  during  the  Fiesta,"  he  answered  com 
placently,  taking  a  fresh  sip  of  pulque. 


38  WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE 

"How  did  you  ever  persuade  her  to  dance?"  asked 
Pedro.  "  It's  not  the  first  time  you  have  made  over 
tures  to  her." 

"  Ah,  that's  the  mystery !  I'd  give  something  to 
know  why  she  danced.  You  know,"  he  continued,  "  it's 
the  first  time  she  has  ever  appeared  in  public." 

"The  first  time?"  interrupted  the  Captain  in  sur 
prise.  "  Why  —  she  possesses  the  composure  of  a 
veteran  of  the  footlights." 

"  Just  so,"  rejoined  Carlos.  *'  Nothing  is  more 
characteristic  of  her ;  she's  at  home  everywhere.  When 
I  first  saw  her  dance  three  years  ago  in  the  garden 
of  the  old  Posada  at  the  birthday  fete  of  Senora  Fer 
nandez,  I  knew  instantly  that  she  was  either  possessed 
of  the  devil  or  the  ancient  muse  of  dance;  also,  why  Don 
Felipe  Ramirez  went  mad  over  her. 

"  Dios!  she's  a  strange  woman  —  almost  mysterious 
at  times !  "  he  added  reflectively,  with  a  shrug  of  the 
shoulders  and  gesture  of  the  hands.  "  I  thought,  of 
course,  that  it  was  the  money  she  wanted  when  she 
finally  consented  to  dance,  but  I'm  not  so  sure  of  it 
now." 

"What  reason  have  you  for  supposing  otherwise?" 
asked  Pedro. 

"  Every  reason.  What  do  you  think  she  did  with 
the  heap  of  gold  and  silver  that  was  showered  upon 
her  by  the  audience?  " 

"  What  ?  "  excitedly  demanded  old  Miguel,  who  by 
this  time  had  fortified  himself  with  a  fresh  glass  of 
aguardiente. 

"  Why,  after  it  had  been  gathered  up  and  handed 


39 

to  her,  she,  without  so  much  as  looking  at  it,  tossed 
it  lightly  into  the  center  of  the  stage  and  bade  the 
musicians  and  stage-hands  remember  her  when  they 
drank  to  their  sweethearts  to-night." 

Captain  Forest's  interest  began  to  be  aroused. 

"  Caramba  —  'tis  strange !  "  muttered  old  Miguel, 
eyeing  his  glass  meditatively ;  his  head  nodding  slightly 
from  the  effects  of  too  much  liquor.  "  But  what  will 
Padre  Antonio  say  when  he  hears  of  it?  How  fortunate 
he  wasn't  here  to  witness  a  sight  that  must  have  caused 
him  the  deepest  humiliation.  Poor  man,"  he  con 
tinued,  assuming  a  sympathetic  tone,  "  it  is  already  the 
scandal  of  the  town." 

"Bah!  what  of  that?"  returned  Carlos. 

It  was  evident  to  all  that  the  delights  of  the  Fiesta 
were  beginning  to  tell  on  the  old  man.  Already  it  had 
been  noted  on  previous  occasions  that  an  overindulgence 
in  aguardiente  usually  invoked  a  religious  frame  of  mind 
in  him,  but  which  in  Miguel's  case  resembled  rather 
the  groping  of  a  lost  soul  than  the  prophetic  vision 
of  the  seer. 

"What  of  that?"  echoed  Miguel,  an  ominous  light 
flashing  from  his  eyes.  "  Those  golden  pesos  so  lightly 
earned  will  just  about  pay  for  a  thousand  masses  in 
order  to  avert  excommunication  and  enable  the  Church 
to  snatch  the  soul  of  the  Chiquita  from  the  fires  of  pur 
gatory  as  a  punishment  for  conduct  unbecoming  the 
ward  of  a  priest." 

"  Bah !  you  talk  like  an  infant,  Miguel !  What  a 
sad,  weary  world  this  would  be  if  there  were  only  priests 
and  churches  in  it  and  men  did  nothing  all  day  long  but 


40  WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE 

say  aves  and  burn  candles  on  altars,"  and  Carlos  lightly 
blew  a  ring  of  smoke  toward  the  ceiling. 

"Ah,  yes,  perhaps  —  quien  sabe,  amigo  mio?  "  an 
swered  the  old  man  dryly.  "  But  the  Church  is  the 
Church." 

"  Miguel,  you  are  growing  old,"  said  Pedro,  slapping 
him  lightly  on  the  back.  "  Have  another  glass !  " 

"  I'm  not  old.  I'm  no  older  than  the  rest  of  you, 
and  neither  will  I  have  another  glass,"  retorted  Miguel 
hotly,  greatly  irritated  by  the  others'  laughter. 

"  Ah !  "  he  continued,  wagging  his  head,  and  in  a 
tone  of  bravado  and  offended  dignity,  "  you  think  I 
can't  get  home  alone,  do  you?  I'll  show  you  that  Miguel 
Torreno  is  still  as  young  as  the  rest  of  you ! "  And 
supporting  himself  with  one  hand  on  the  table  and  the 
other  on  his  stick,  he  rose  from  his  seat  with  great 
difficulty. 

"Miguel  Torreno  old,  is  he?  A  thousand  devils!" 
A  chorus  of  laughter  greeted  this  last  outburst  as  he 
turned  unsteadily  and  swaying  to  and  fro,  slowly  made 
his  way  through  the  crowd  toward  the  door. 

Just  then  a  man  at  the  next  table  rose  with  an  oath. 
It  was  Juan  Ramon,  Major-domo  of  the  Inn  of  the 
Stars.  Juan  Ramon,  the  handsome,  the  hawk,  the 
gambler  —  the  greatest  vaquero  in  Chihuahua.  The 
man  who  took  delight  in  riding  horses  that  other  men 
feared  —  the  man  in  whose  hand  the  rlata  became  a 
magic  wand,  a  hissing  serpent,  and  who  could  stretch 
a  bull  at  full  length  upon  the  ground  at  a  given  spot 
within  a  given  time. 


WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE  41 

"  Has  the  blessed  Fiesta  brought  you  no  luck,  Juan  ?  " 
inquired  Carlos,  tilting  himself  back  in  his  chair  and 
smiling  up  in  the  other's  face. 

"Luck  —  blessed  Fiesta?  The  devil  take  them 
both !  "  exclaimed  Juan,  the  look  of  disgust  on  his  face 
gradually  changing  to  one  of  resignation  —  that  serene 
expression  of  the  born  gambler  whom  experience  has 
taught  that  days  of  famine  are  certain  to  follow  those 
of  plenty. 

"  Look !  "  he  repeated.  "  The  cards  are  bewitched  — 
not  a  centavo!  My  pockets  are  empty  as  Lazarus' 
stomach!  Only  a  month  ago  I  picked  out  a  beautiful 
little  hacienda  with  the  fairest  acreage  to  which  I  in 
tended  to  retire  and  live  like  a  Caballero  —  to-day  I 
parted  with  my  only  horse  at  a  loss  —  to-morrow," 
and  he  shrugged  his  shoulders  indifferently,  "  if  this 
sort  of  thing  continues,  I'll  be  forced  to  pawn  the  but 
tons  on  my  breeches. 

"  Mercedes  Dios,  blessed  be  the  Fiesta!  "  And  fling 
ing  the  end  of  his  zerape  over  one  shoulder  and  across 
the  lower  half  of  his  face,  he  stalked  toward  the  door; 
the  laughter  of  his  friends  ringing  in  his  ears. 


IV 


riHEN  years  previous  to  the  events  just  related, 
•*•  Padre  Antonio,  his  parochial  duties  over  for  the 
day,  was  slowly  retracing  his  steps  homeward. 

It  was  a  mild,  serene  summer  evening,  and  he  paused 
before  the  massive  iron  gates  set  in  the  high  adobe 
wall  surrounding  his  garden  for  a  last  look  at  the 
sunset  before  entering  his  house. 

It  had  been  a  strenuous  day  for  Padre  Antonio. 
Early  that  morning,  Miguel  Torreno  while  beating  his 
mule,  had  been  kicked  half  way  across  his  corral  by  that 
stubborn  though  sensible  animal,  breaking  Miguel's 
right  arm  and  fracturing  three  of  his  ribs.  But  no 
sooner  had  it  been  ascertained  that  old  Miguel  would 
not  die  as  he  obstinately  insisted  that  he  would,  calling 
frantically  upon  the  Saints  the  while  as  the  vision  of 
purgatorial  fires  which  he  knew  awaited  him  loomed 
before  his  distracted  imagination,  than  the  wives  of 
Pedro  Torlone  and  Jose  Alvarez,  neighbors  and  friends, 
quarreled  over  a  cheap  blue  and  white  striped  ribosa, 
embroiling  their  husbands  who,  without  the  Padre's  in 
tercession,  would  have  come  to  blows. 

Then  the  last  sacrament  had  been  administered  to 
Don  Juan  Otero,  one  of  Santa  Fe's  oldest  and  most 
respected  citizens. 

In  a  vain  effort  to  banish  the  unpleasant  recollections 

42 


WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE  43 

of  the  day  from  his  thoughts,  Padre  Antonio  turned 
with  a  sigh  from  the  glories  of  the  sunset  which  he 
had  been  contemplating,  and  was  on  the  point  of  enter 
ing  the  garden  when  his  quick  ear  caught  the  sound 
of  horse's  hoofs  on  the  road,  causing  him  to  pause  witli 
his  hand  on  the  latch  of  the  gate. 

His  house  being  situated  in  an  unfrequented  quarter 
of  the  town,  he  decided  to  await  the  coming  of  the 
animal ;  the  bearer  perchance  of  some  friend  or  acquaint 
ance.  He  had  not  long  to  wait.  The  sounds  drew 
nearer  and  nearer,  and  presently,  greatly  to  his  aston 
ishment,  a  tall,  gaunt,  half-starved  gray  horse  with  a 
riata  fastened  to  his  lower  jaw,  and  upon  whose  back  sat 
an  equally  gaunt  and  haggard  Indian  woman  with  di 
sheveled  hair  and  clothes  tattered  and  dust  begrimed, 
came  into  view  around  the  sharp  angle  of  the  wall 
and  stopped  directly  before  him. 

Never  in  all  his  long  and  varied  experience  had  he 
witnessed  such  a  pitiable  spectacle  as  the  woman  pre 
sented.  The  wild,  hollow  eyes  and  wasted,  emaciated 
form  and  features  gave  her  more  the  appearance  of 
some  wild  beast  than  a  human  being.  She  did  not  ap 
pear  to  be  conscious  of  his  presence ;  and  before  he  had 
time  to  recover  from  his  surprise  or  utter  a  word,  she 
stretched  both  arms  out  before  her  as  if  toward  the 
sun,  and  uttering  a  wild,  harsh,  inarticulate  cry, 
dropped  unconscious  from  the  horse's  back  into  his 
arms. 

Experience  had  taught  Padre  Antonio  to  act  quickly 
in  cases  of  emergency,  and  with  the  assistance  of  his 
gardener  and  Manuela,  his  old  Indian  housekeeper,  he 


44  WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE 

carried  her  into  the  house  and  laid  her  upon  his  own 
bed.  For  days  she  lay  in  a  delirium,  the  result  of 
the  terrible  privations  she  had  evidently  endured.  She 
raved  and  talked  incoherently  in  a  language  which 
neither  he  nor  Manuela  understood. 

The  doctors  whom  he  summoned  at  the  outset,  only 
shook  their  heads,  and  after  a  lengthy  consultation 
informed  him  with  the  stoicism  characteristic  of  the 
profession  that,  the  patient  would  either  die  or  recover. 
But  Padre  Antonio  did  not  despair.  In  his  extremity 
he  turned  to  heaven,  nor  did  his  petition  pass  un 
heeded.  At  length,  after  many  days  of  anxious  watch 
ing,  the  fever  left  her  and  she  sank  into  a  deep,  refresh 
ing  sleep  from  which  she  did  not  awaken  for  many 
hours. 

It  was  toward  the  dawn  of  a  Sabbath,  and  as  the 
calm  and  peace  of  sleep  settled  upon  her,  her  wasted 
and  emaciated  features  began  gradually  to  assume  their 
normal  outline.  Nature  asserted  herself,  and  when  the 
large  dark  eyes  finally  opened  once  more,  it  was  into 
the  face  of  a  beautiful  girl  that  Padre  Antonio  found 
himself  gazing  as  he  knelt  by  her  bedside  in  prayer. 

"  Be  quiet,  my  daughter,"  he  involuntarily  murmured 
as  her  eyes  rested  upon  his,  without  considering  whether 
she  understood  him.  But  the  faint  semblance  of  a 
smile  that  lit  up  her  countenance  in  response  to  his 
words  told  him  she  comprehended.  Then,  during  the 
long  days  of  convalescence  that  ensued,  she  imparted 
her  history  to  him  in  broken  Spanish. 

She  was  a  Tewana ;  the  daughter  of  their  War  Chief, 
the  Whirlwind,  who  had  been  killed  recently  in  battle 


45 

with  another  Indian  tribe,  the  Ispali.  Just  previous 
to  this,  her  people  who  had  long  been  at  war  with 
the  Government,  had  been  defeated  by  the  Mexican 
troops.  After  the  battle  the  entire  tribe  with  the  ex 
ception  of  the  Whirlwind's  band  made  peace  with  the 
Government;  the  remnant  of  the  latter  with  which  she 
remained,  escaping  into  the  mountains.  But  fate  had 
doomed  the  little  fleeing  band  to  extermination.  It  was 
surprised  and  annihilated  by  the  Ispali  Chieftain,  the 
White  Wolf,  and  his  followers  whose  territory  they  had 
invaded ;  she  being  the  only  one  spared  —  the  White 
Wolf  signifying  his  intention  of  making  her  one  of 
his  wives.  But  that  same  night  when  the  Chieftain 
entered  the  lodge  he  had  set  apart  for  her  and  began  to 
make  advances  to  her,  she  suddenly  snatched  a  brand 
from  the  fire  which  burned  in  the  center  of  the  lodge 
and  struck  him  over  the  head,  knocking  him  sense 
less. 

Then,  stealing  forth  from  the  lodge,  she  mounted 
the  Chieftain's  horse  which  stood  tethered  just  outside 
the  door  and  fled  under  cover  of  the  night.  For  days 
she  fled  across  the  deserts  and  mountains,  concealing 
herself  during  the  daytime  and  traveling  at  night; 
subsisting  as  best  she  could  upon  the  wild  roots  and 
berries  which  she  was  able  to  find.  But  the  privations 
which  she  was  forced  to  endure  —  the  lack  of  food  and 
water,  night  vigils  and  exposure  to  the  weather,  began 
to  tell  on  her.  She  became  delirious,  and  no  longer 
able  to  guide  her  horse,  was  obliged  to  let  him  choose 
his  own  course,  and  —  Padre  Antonio  knew  the  rest. 

Surely  God  had  led  this  fair  heathen  child  to  his 


46  WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE 

very  door  in  order  that  he,  Padre  Antonio,  might  snatch 
her  soul  from  the  flames  of  hell  by  directing  her  in  the 
way  of  the  true  faith.  There  could  be  no  doubt  of 
it ;  God's  handiwork  was  too  apparent. 

Padre  Antonio  was  a  liberal,  broad-minded  man. 
Having  experienced  most  things  that  fall  to  the  lot  of 
men,  he  did  not  believe  in  restraining  her  against  her 
will  in  order  that  her  conversion  might  be  accomplished 
as  many  a  zealous  priest  might  have  considered  justi 
fiable  in  her  case.  But  should  she  manifest  a  desire  to 
remain  with  him,  she  would  be  reared  in  the  very  lap 
of  Mother  Church.  With  this  project  in  mind,  it  was 
with  the  greatest  solicitude  that  he  watched  her  re 
covery,  and  when  she  was  informed  that  she  would  be 
permitted  to  return  to  her  own  people  if  she  so  desired, 
he  won  her  confidence  completely. 

The  last  vestige  of  that  barrier  of  restraint  and  sus 
picion  which  the  strangeness  of  her  position  had  reared 
between  them  was  swept  away. 

From  that  moment  the  wild  little  nomad  of  the  desert 
evinced  the  keenest  interest  in  her  new  surroundings. 
Her  childish  delight  was  unbounded  on  beholding  for 
the  first  time  in  her  life  the  strange  flowers  and  fruits 
in  the  garden.  They  were  all  so  new  and  wonderful 
to  her,  and  she  wandered  for  hours  among  them ;  touch 
ing  and  plucking  them  and  tasting  and  inhaling  their 
fragrance. 

Whether  it  was  the  novelty  of  her  position,  or  her 
sudden  and  passionate  attachment  to  Padre  Antonio 
whom  she  regarded  in  the  light  of  a  new-found  father 
that  caused  her  to  forget  for  the  time  her  former  wild 


WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE     47 

life  and  consent  to  remain  with  him,  is  difficult  to  de 
termine. 

Padre  Antonio  who  had  lived  many  years  among 
the  wild  tribes  of  the  country  and  knew  them  as  few 
men  did,  their  insatiable  love  of  liberty  and  intense 
dislike  of  the  White  man's  civilization,  looked  upon 
her  conversion  and  decision  to  remain  with  him  as 
another  direct  intervention  of  Providence;  for  that 
which  usually  required  years  had  been  accomplished 
in  as  many  weeks  in  her  case.  It  was  little  short  of 
a  miracle,  and  he  rejoiced  exceedingly  and  began  grad 
ually  to  unfold  his  plans  to  her  concerning  her  future. 

The  curriculum  of  the  Convent  of  Saint  Claire  in 
Santa  Fe  did  not  seem  adequate,  and  nothing  would 
do,  but  that  he  should  accompany  her  to  the  City  of 
Mexico,  where  he  placed  her  in  charge  of  the  Sisters 
of  Saint  Ursula.  There  she  would  have  not  only  the 
educational,  but  the  social  advantages  which  the  city 
offered. 

Before  their  departure  he  christened  her,  Chiquita  Pia 
Maria  Roxan  Concepcion  Salvatore ;  a  name  which, 
out  of  gratitude  and  obedience  to  her  benefactor,  she 
accepted  without  question  concerning  either  its  origin 
or  his  reason  for  giving  it  to  her. 

Six  years  passed,  during  which  she  traveled  for 
three  summers  in  Europe  with  friends  of  the  Padre. 
Interminably  long  years  they  seemed  to  him.  Each 
year  he  had  planned  to  visit  her,  but  each  time  some 
thing  intervened  to  prevent  his  going.  He  was  a  busy 
man.  His  duties  required  annual  visits  to  the  out 
lying  pueblos  and  distant  Indian  Missions,  consuming 


48  WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE 

his  entire  time.  However,  he  at  length  received  word 
from  the  Sisters  of  Saint  Ursula  that  Chiquita  had  com 
pleted  her  course  of  studies  and  had  started  on  her  re 
turn  journey  to  Santa  Fe. 

It  was  evident  from  the  reports  which  he  had  received 
at  regular  intervals  from  the  Sisters  that  she  did  not 
care  for  the  Church  as  he  had  fondly  hoped  she  might. 
But  after  all,  what  did  it  really  matter? 

One  so  young  and  gay  could  not  be  expected  to 
take  life  so  seriously.  When  one  grew  old,  one  be 
came  serious  enough  for  this  world;  and  he  smiled 
as  he  thought  of  his  wild  little  Indian  girl. 

In  his  fond  imagination,  he  saw  her  large,  mischievous, 
dark  eyes  snap,  and  heard  the  merry  peals  of  her  laugh 
ter  as  she  flitted  about  the  garden  in  former  years. 
Surely  it  was  better  thus  • —  that  she  should  remain  blithe 
and  happy  like  the  birds,  as  God  had  created  her. 

The  years  had  begun  to  tell  on  the  aged  Manuela. 
She  was  beginning  to  show  signs  of  failing,  and  he 
decided  that  Chiquita,  his  ward,  should  live  with  him 
and  rule  his  household  in  Manuela's  stead.  His  wants 
were  so  few  and  simple  that  she  would  have  little  to  do 
and  old  Manuela  would  be  able  to  sun  herself  in  the 
garden  during  the  remaining  years  of  her  life;  a  re 
ward  for  her  long  and  faithful  service.  Nor  was  Man 
uela  adverse  to  this  new  arrangement  which  must  event 
ually  deprive  her  of  all  authority  in  the  household ;  a 
position  she  had  guarded  so  jealously  through  the 
years  and  which  had  raised  her  in  the  estimation  of 
the  community.  Although  of  a  different  people,  the 
common  racial  blood  bond  had  drawn  the  two  women 


WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE  49 

together  from  the  first ;  besides,  she  could  ahvays  assist 
in  the  lighter  work  of  the  household  if  she  chose. 

The  Padre  never  tired  of  meditating  upon  this  fond 
dream  during  his  leisure  moments.  What  a  perpetual 
source  of  joy  and  satisfaction  the  presence  and  sun 
shine  of  this  child  of  his  own  molding  would  be  to 
him  in  his  old  age!  Besides  he  would  always  be  near 
her  to  administer  spiritual  council  and  guidance. 

So,  when  the  day  of  her  arrival  finally  dawned,  he 
and  old  Manuela  rose  with  the  sun,  and  gathering  the 
freshest  and  brightest  flowers  the  garden  contained, 
they  arranged  them  in  the  room  she  was  to  occupy; 
transforming  it  into  a  veritable  bower  of  fragrance 
and  color. 

The  prospect  of  seeing  his  protegee  so  soon  again, 
filled  Padre  Antonio  with  the  most  conflicting  emo 
tions  of  longing  and  impatience. 

He  could  think  of  nothing  else  —  could  neither  sit 
nor  stand,  but  fretted  and  bustled  about  the  house  with 
the  impatience  of  a  child.  Fearful  lest  he  should  be 
too  late,  he  hurried  through  his  simple  breakfast,  con 
sisting  of  black  coffee  and  a  roll,  without  so  much  as 
glancing  at  the  local  paper  as  was  his  wont ;  and  then, 
quite  forgetting  to  pull  on  his  black  silk  gloves  which 
Manuela  thrust  into  his  hands  together  with  his  hat 
and  stick,  he  hastened  to  the  station  which  he  reached 
an  hour  before  the  time  scheduled  for  the  arrival  of 
the  stage. 

Of  course  she  must  have  changed  somewhat  during 
the  long  interval  of  her  absence,  he  argued,  more  as 
a  concession  to  reason  than  to  desire  or  sentiment. 


50  WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE 

But  in  spite  of  this  possibility,  his  mental  picture  of 
her  still  remained  that  of  the  little  Indian  girl  he  had 
confided  to  the  care  of  the  good  Sisters  of  Saint  Ursula 
six  years  before. 

What  if  the  stage  were  late,  and  could  she  make  the 
long  journey  alone  and  in  safety,  he  asked  himself  a 
thousand  times  as  he  impatiently  paced  up  and  down  the 
platform  of  the  station ;  the  tap  of  his  gold-headed  cane 
marking  the  time  of  his  steps  on  the  boards  beneath 
him. 

"  Saints !  but  the  stage  was  slow !  A  snail  could 
crawl  — "  Suddenly  he  stopped  short.  A  flush  of  joy 
suffused  his  countenance  —  his  heart  began  to  beat 
rapidly  and  his  right  hand  with  which  he  grasped  his 
cane  trembled  perceptibly  as  he  gazed  intently  down 
the  long  dusty  highroad. 

"  At  last ! "  he  cried.  Another  intense  moment  of 
suspense  and  the  distant  cracking  of  a  whip  and  sounds 
of  wheels  and  hoof-beats  on  the  road  announced  the 
approach  of  the  stage.  Presently  it  hove  in  sight  and 
a  few  minutes  later,  as  it  drew  up  before  the  station 
and  came  to  a  full  stop,  the  door  was  hastily  flung  open 
and  a  tall,  closely  veiled  woman  sprang  lightly  to  the 
platform. 

Her  striking  appearance  would  have  commanded  at 
tention  anywhere,  but  without  noticing  her,  he  brushed 
hastily  past  her  and  gazed  eagerly  into  the  interior  of 
the  coach.  It  was  empty. 

Dios!  what  had  happened?  There  must  be  some  mis 
take!  With  a  note  of  keenest  disappointment  in  his 
voice  he  turned  sharply  on  the  driver  and  impatiently 


WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE  51 

demanded  what  had  become  of  the  little  Indian  girl  that 
had  been  placed  in  his  charge. 

"Little  Indian  girl?  Caramba! "  A  look  of  be 
wilderment  accompanied  by  a  shrug  of  the  shoulders  and 
a  "  no  sabe,  Seiior  Padre,'*  was  the  only  answer  he  re 
ceived.  Consternation  seized  Padre  Antonio. 

Merciful  heaven  !  what  had  become  of  her  —  Chiquita, 
his  little  girl?  His  voice  choked,  while  tears  of  bitter 
disappointment  welled  to  his  eyes.  "  Ah,  yes,  there  had 
been  a  mistake  —  she  would  come  by  the  next  stage," 
he  said,  addressing  the  driver,  and  was  on  the  point 
of  turning  away  when  a  silvery  peal  of  laughter  fell  upon 
his  ears.  He  felt  a  soft  touch  on  his  shoulder  and  a 
voice  close  to  him  said: 

"  Padre  Antonio,  don't  you  know  your  little  Chi 
quita?  "  The  veil  had  slipped  from  her  face,  display 
ing  the  features  of  a  beautiful  Spanish  woman. 
Confounded  and  speechless  with  amazement,  Padre  An 
tonio  could  only  gaze  in  silence  upon  the  apparition 
before  him. 

Was  it  possible,  or  was  he  only  dreaming?  What  a 
transformation !  Was  this  mature  woman,  this  tall  and 
supple  and  refined  and  graceful  creature  his  Chiquita, 
his  wild  little  Indian  girl  of  former  years?  He  rubbed 
his  eyes  in  bewilderment  and  gazed  again.  Holy  Maria ! 
but  she  was  beautiful  —  fair  as  the  starry  jasmine  blos 
soms  which  she  wore  at  her  breast  and  in  the  dark  folds 
of  her  hair. 

In  that  hour  the  world  suddenly  became  filled  with 
exquisite  harmony  for  Padre  Antonio,  and  he  seemed 
to  grow  younger  by  many  years. 


52  WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE 

The  radiant  beauty  of  her  face  with  the  poetry  of 
sunshine  and  laughter  in  her  eyes  and  her  grace  and 
charm  of  personality  affected  him  like  some  wonderfully 
attuned  chime  of  silver  bells.  Surely  this  was  worth 
waiting  for.  His  prayers  had  been  answered  richly 
and  abundantly,  far  beyond  anything  his  imagination 
had  pictured  during  those  long  years  of  waiting. 


r  1 1  HE  Posada  de  las  Estrellas  was  situated  on  the 
•*•  western  side  of  the  town  within  a  stone's  throw  of 
Padre  Antonio's  house.  It  stood  well  back  from  the 
highroad  from  which  it  was  screened  by  a  thick  hedge- 
like  growth  of  cedar,  manzanita,  tamarisk  and  lilac 
bushes. 

A  short  distance  east  of  the  Posada,  the  highroad 
entered  the  long  Alameda  which  led  to  the  plaza  in  the 
center  of  the  town,  overlooked  by  the  old  Precedio  or 
Governor's  palace. 

The  widespreading  branches  of  two  immense  cotton- 
wood  trees,  the  trunk  of  one  of  which  was  encircled  by 
a  rustic  bench,  cast  an  inviting  shade  in  front  of  the 
house  and  wide  veranda  which  stretched  its  length 
along  two  sides  of  the  low,  one  storied  adobe  structure. 
Honeysuckle  and  white  clematis  and  pink  and  scarlet 
passion  vines  clambered  up  its  slender  pillars  and  hung 
in  fragrant  flowering  festoons  from  the  low  balustrades 
above.  The  fresh  green  leaves  of  the  nasturtium, 
bright  with  variegated  blossoms,  ranging  from  deep 
scarlet  to  gold  and  pale  yellow,  trailed  along  the  ground 
at  the  foot  of  the  veranda  and  skirted  the  narrow  path 
way  which  led  to  the  rear  of  the  Posada  whose  patio 
looked  out  upon  a  garden  interspersed  with  innumer 
able  flowers  and  shrubs,  fruit  and  cedar  trees,  and 

53 


54  WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE 

whose  soft  green  lawn  was  intersected  by  narrow  gravel 
pathways.  Just  back  of  the  garden  lay  the  vegetable 
patches  which  intervened  between  it  and  the  stables  and 
corrals,  whence  came  the  cackling  of  hens  and  cooing 
of  pigeons  in  the  early  morning. 

Originally  the  Posada  had  been  one  of  the  large 
haciendas  adjoining  Santa  Fe,  but  its  mistress,  Senora 
Fernandez,  had  transformed  it  into  an  Inn  after  the 
death  of  her  husband  who  had  been  killed  accidentally 
by  the  fall  of  his  horse.  Finding  herself  in  reduced 
circumstances  incurred  by  her  husband's  gambling  pro 
pensities,  she  resolved  upon  the  change.  His  chief 
legacy  consisting  of  debts,  she  was  obliged  to  part 
with  the  greater  portion  of  the  estate,  but  her  natural 
executive  ability  stood  her  in  good  stead. 

The  new  enterprise  prospered,  and  the  Inn  became 
widely  known  throughout  the  country  as  a  place  at 
which  to  stop  if  only  for  a  cup  of  chocolate  or  a  chat 
with  the  Senora  who  always  knew  the  latest  gossip. 

In  her  youth  she  had  been  noted  for  her  beauty,  and 
even  now,  in  spite  of  middle-age  and  somewhat  faded 
features,  the  latter  the  result  of  the  struggle  she  had 
undergone  to  reestablish  herself  in  the  world,  she  was 
still  considered  buxom  and  fair  to  look  upon  by  the 
majority  of  men.  She  carried  her  head  high  and  with 
a  coquettish  air  which  plainly  showed  she  had  by  no 
means  relinquished  her  hold  upon  life. 

On  this  particular  morning  she  looked  unusually 
well  as  she  moved  about  the  patio  engaged  with  her 
women  in  assorting  a  huge  basket  of  freshly  laundered 
household  linen.  Not  a  strand  of  silver  was  visible 


WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE  55 

in  her  jet  black  hair,  adorned  with  a  large  tortoise- 
shell  comb  and  a  single  Castilian  rose.  Her  gay,  low- 
necked,  short  sleeved  bodice,  exposing  her  shapely  neck 
and  arms,  harmonized  well  with  her  short,  black  silken 
saya  which  rustled  with  every  movement  she  made  and 
from  beneath  which  protruded  a  small  pair  of  high 
insteped  feet  encased  in  black  slippers  ornamented  with 
large  quaint  silver  buckles. 

It  was  the  Senora's  birthday.  She  had  risen  earlier 
than  usual  prepared  to  receive  the  congratulations  of 
her  friends  who,  she  knew,  would  be  sure  to  call  dur 
ing  the  day  in  honor  of  the  occasion.  A  few  of  them 
would  be  asked  to  remain  and  dine  with  her  in  the 
evening. 

It  was  on  a  similar  occasion  that  Chiquita  had  danced 
in  the  patio  before  her  guests. 

The  innate  vanity  of  the  woman  might  have  led  one 
to  suppose  that  she  would  let  the  years  pass  unnoticed, 
but  not  so.  The  old,  time-honored  custom  of  the  coun 
try  must  be  observed  lest  her  friends  might  say: 
Senora  Fernandez  is  already  laying  by  for  a  ripe  old 
age,  the  mere  suggestion  of  which  on  the  part  of  the 
world  would  have  been  enough  to  throw  her  into  one 
of  those  uncontrollable  fits  of  rage  for  which  she  was 
noted. 

Artful,  shrewd  and  scheming  though  she  was,  her 
susceptibility  to  flattery  was  her  weak  point,  amount 
ing  almost  to  a  mania.  To  be  told  that  she  still  looked 
as  young  and  handsome  as  in  the  days  when  the  years 
justified  the  statement,  was  to  win  her  immediate  esteem. 
The  lack  of  this  servile  attitude  and  cringing  civility 


56  WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE 

on  Chiquita's  part,  together  with  the  knowledge  of  her 
own  superiority  which  she  never  hesitated  to  show  when 
occasion  required,  had  drawn  down  the  Senora's  enmity 
upon  her.  Whereas,  an  occasional  soft  word  or  smile 
of  acquiescence  —  she  demanded  so  little  —  would  have 
smoothed  her  ruffled  spirit  and  taken  the  edge  off  her 
tongue,  the  sharpest  in  Santa  Fe. 

It  was  not  easy  for  the  inveterate  coquette  and  one 
time  reigning  belle  to  resign  the  position  she  had  held 
so  long  and  undisputed,  especially  to  an  alien  —  one 
whom  the  full  blooded  Spaniard  inwardly  despises,  re 
gards  as  of  an  inferior  race. 

How  she  hated  the  dark  woman,  envied  the  glances 
and  flatteries  and  attentions  which  she  always  re 
ceived  wherever  she  went.  It  was  said,  that  on  Chi- 
quita's  return  from  school,  Senora  Fernandez  suddenly 
grew  cold  and  haughty  toward  the  world,  but  finding 
that  a  proud  exterior  availed  her  little,  she  sulked  and 
pouted  for  a  time  like  a  spoiled  child,  only  to  warm 
again  to  the  world  which  she  loved  so  passionately, 
which  she  felt  slipping  from  her  and  without  whose 
adulation  she  could  not  live. 

Dios  de  mi  vida!  but  it  was  terrible  to  grow  old! 
Not  since  the  death  of  her  husband,  Don  Carlos,  had 
she  endured  so  bitter  a  pang.  The  fact  that  she  had 
never  had  any  children  accounted  perhaps  for  a  cer 
tain  harshness  in  her  nature. 

It  was  a  busy  day  for  the  Senora.  Besides  the  care 
of  her  guests,  the  preparing  of  freshly  killed  fowl  and 
baking  of  cakes  and  tortillas,  there  was  the  garden 
which  must  be  hung  with  lanterns  where  there  would 


WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE     57 

be  the  usual  dancing  and  merrymaking  during  the 
evening.  All  this  and  much  more  the  Sefiora  must 
superintend,  but  she  was  equal  to  the  task. 

As  she  issued  her  orders  to  the  retinue  of  servants 
that  came  and  went,  she  carried  on  a  lively,  though 
interrupted,  conversation  with  her  sister,  Sefiora  Rosario 
Sanchez,  and  her  niece,  Dolores,  who  had  come  to  as 
sist  her  in  the  preparations. 

"  It  has  come  at  last  —  I  always  said  it  would  — • 
I  never  trusted  that  double  nature  of  hers ! "  she  ex 
claimed  triumphantly,  pausing  for  an  instant  in  her 
work  of  assorting  the  linen.  The  expression  and  gesture 
of  Sefiora  Sanchez  plainly  bespoke  the  shock  she  also 
had  experienced. 

"To  think  of  it,"  she  gasped.  "How  Padre  An 
tonio  can  overlook  such  a  breach  of  confidence  and  of 
fense  to  the  Church  is  more  than  I  can  understand ! " 

"Ah!  that  shows  the  extent  of  her  influence  over 
him,"  answered  Sefiora.  "  She  has  bewitched  him  with 
her  wild  ways  —  he  simply  dotes  on  her !  " 

"  It's  scandalous !  "  broke  in  her  sister. 

"  To  my  mind,  it  shows  signs  of  the  Padre's  failing," 
rejoined  the  Sefiora  sharply. 

"  It  does  indeed  —  poor  man ! "  sighed  her  sister. 
"  And  what's  more  —  it  never  did  seem  proper  that  so 
handsome  a  woman  should  live  with  a  priest  even  though 
she  be  his  ward  and  he  an  old  man." 

"  Handsome?"  sneered  the  Sefiora,  drawing  herself 
together  as  though  she  had  received  an  electric  shock ; 
the  pleased  and  animated  expression  of  her  face  chang 
ing  suddenly  to  one  of  utmost  frigidity.  "  I  never 


58 

could  understand  why  people  considered  that  Indian 
good  looking,"  and  her  black  eyes  snapped  as  she  turned 
to  resume  her  work,  plainly  betraying  the  jealousy 
aroused.  Seiiora  Sanchez,  knowing  her  sister's  temper 
only  too  well,  hastened  to  change  the  subject. 

Strange  to  say,  Padre  Antonio  did  not  share  the 
public's  sentiment,  or  rather  that  of  his  own  particular 
flock,  concerning  Chiquita's  latest  escapade.  Instead  of 
being  overwhelmed,  broken  in  spirit  and  utterly  cast 
down  by  grief  and  shame  as  had  been  confidently  pre 
dicted,  he,  much  to  the  disgust  of  his  congregation, 
went  calmly  about  his  duties  as  though  nothing  unusual 
had  occurred,  referring  jocosely  to  this  lark  of  his  mad 
cap  ward  as  he  was  pleased  to  term  it. 

Lark?  Heavens!  had  the  Padre  lost  his  senses? 
Excommunication  might  be  a  little  too  severe,  but  a 
year's  solitary  confinement  in  a  convent  as  a  penance 
for  her  sin  was  the  least  penalty  she  could  expect. 

But  Padre  Antonio  knew  what  the  rest  of  the  world 
did  not.  That  his  charming,  irrepressible  protegee 
would  have  snapped  her  fingers  lightly  at  the  mere  sug 
gestion  of  either.  The  days  of  mediaeval  suppression 
of  females  had  come  to  an  end  even  in  Mexico.  More- 
ever,  there  existed  a  perfect  understanding  between  the 
two. 

During  his  long  years  of  missionary  work  he  had 
learned  that  the  heathen  often  stood  higher  in  the  sight 
of  Heaven  than  many  a  zealous  devotee  of  the  Church. 
Besides,  dancing  was  not  only  a  national  pastime  of 
the  Spaniard,  but  among  Indians,  a  part  of  their  re 
ligion  as  well. 


WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE  59 

That  Chiquita  had  some  very  good  reason  for  dancing 
in  public,  he  knew  well  enough.  They  understood  one 
another  perfectly,  and  he  did  not  ask  her  her  reason 
for  dancing,  knowing  full  well  that  some  day  she  would 
tell  him  of  her  own  accord. 

Although  Chiquita  had  accommodated  herself  mar- 
velously  well  to  the  new  conditions,  imbibing  the  best 
civilization  had  to  offer,  she  nevertheless  remained  the 
f reeborn  woman  • —  the  descendant  of  a  freeborn  race 
of  men.  The  wild,  free  nomad  whom  experience  and 
direct  contact  with  nature  had  early  taught  to  recognize 
the  simple  underlying  truths  and  realities  of  life  and 
their  relations  to  one  another,  was  not  to  be  measured 
by  the  conventions  or  limited  standards  of  a  tamer  race 
of  men  hedged  about  by  superficial  traditions  and  born 
and  reared  remote  from  the  heart  of  nature  beneath  the 
roofs  of  houses.  It  was  the  cold,  hard  earth  and  equally 
cold  and  unrelenting  stars  that  had  nurtured  Chiquita 
from  earliest  childhood,  and  to  apply  the  petty  re 
straints  and  conventions  of  modern  society  to  her  was 
like  clipping  the  wings  of  an  eagle  and  then  expecting 
it  to  fly. 

Ordinarily,  life  is  dull  enough  without  civilized  man's 
efforts  to  reduce  it  to  positive  boredom,  and  although 
Chiquita's  escapades  had  acted  like  a  slap  in  the  face, 
they  had  nevertheless  done  much  to  arouse  the  spirit 
of  the  otherwise  sleepy  old  town.  Her  presence  was 
fresh  and  invigorating  as  the  north  wind.  Moreover, 
the  very  ones  who  criticised  her  most  in  secret,  were 
usually  the  first  to  come  to  her  for  advice  when  in 


60  WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE 

trouble.     For  who  was  so  wise  as  the  strange,  beautiful 
woman? 

True,  It  cost  something  to  be  hated  as  cordially  as 
one  was  admired,  nevertheless,  Padre  Antonio  rightly 
conjectured  that  there  was  not  a  woman  in  Santa  Fe 
who  would  not  willingly  exchange  places  with  his  ward 
were  she  able  to.  So,  like  the  sensible  man  that  he 
was,  he  only  smiled  at  idle  gossip  and  continued  to  watch 
with  increasing  interest  the  transformation  of  his 
protegee. 


VI 

/CAPTAIN  FOREST  had  taken  quarters  at  the 
^-/  Posada  for  an  indefinite  period;  at  least  until  he 
learned  the  whereabouts  of  his  friend,  Dick  Yankton, 
who  had  accompanied  him  on  his  former  expeditions. 

He  had  been  aroused  at  an  early  hour  by  the  cackling 
of  affrighted  fowl  and  the  voices  and  footsteps  of  peons 
as  they  came  and  went  in  the  patio,  their  jests  and 
laughter  mingling  with  snatches  of  song.  Not  being 
able  to  sleep,  he  arose,  and  after  a  hasty  toilet,  stepped 
out  upon  the  veranda,  bright  with  the  morning  sun 
light.  Save  for  his  presence,  the  place  was  deserted; 
the  empty  chairs  standing  about  just  as  their  occupants 
of  the  previous  evening  had  left  them,  a  proof  that  he 
was  the  first  of  the  guests  to  be  abroad. 

"  I  wonder  where  Dick  is?  "  he  soliloquized,  leisurely 
descending  the  veranda  steps  and  turning  into  the  path 
way  that  led  to  the  garden  at  the  rear  of  the  house 
and  thence  to  the  corrals,  whither  he  directed  his  steps 
for  a  look  at  his  horse  to  see  whether  he  had  been 
properly  cared  for  during  the  night.  As  he  disap 
peared  around  the  corner  of  the  house,  a  woman  turned 
in  from  the  highroad  and  paused  before  the  Inn  be 
neath  the  great  cotton-wood  encircled  by  the  bench. 

She  was  tall  and  slender  and  on  one  arm  carried  a 
basket  of  eggs  concealed  beneath  a  layer  of  freshly 

61 


62 

cut  roses;  Padre  Antonio's  annual  birthday  tribute  to 
the  Senora.  Her  heavy  blue-black  hair,  loosely  caught 
up  at  the  back  of  the  neck  and  adorned  with  a  bunch 
of  pink  passion  flowers  nestled  about  her  neck  and 
shoulders,  on  one  of  which  was  perched  a  small  white 
dove  that  fluttered  and  cooed.  From  out  the  midst  of 
the  passion  flowers  shone  a  faint  glint  of  silver. 

Her  dull  white  shirt  waist,  low  at  the  neck  and  with 
sleeves  rolled  back  to  the  elbows,  exposed  her  long, 
slender  neck  and  well  rounded  forearms  which,  like  her 
face,  were  a  rich  red  bronze.  A  faded  orange  kerchief, 
loosely  knotted,  encircled  her  neck ;  the  ends  thrust 
carelessly  into  her  breast.  Her  soft  mauve  saya,  worn 
and  patched  and  looped  up  at  one  side,  disclosing  a 
faded  blue  petticoat  underneath,  fell  to  her  ankles,  dis 
playing  a  pair  of  small  feet  encased  in  dull  blue  stock 
ings  and  low  black  shoes. 

Depositing  the  basket  on  the  bench,  she  extended  her 
right  hand  upon  the  back  of  which  the  dove  immediately 
hopped,  cooing  and  fluttering  as  before. 

"  Cara  mla!  '*  she  murmured  fondly,  raising  it  to 
her  lips,  kissing  it  and  caressing  it  gently  against  her 
cheek. 

"  What  wouldst  thou  —  thou  greedy  little  Jaquino  ? 
Knowest  not  thou  hast  had  one  more  berry  than  thy 
sweet  little  Jaquina?  "  But  the  dove  only  continued 
to  flutter  and  coo  on  her  hand. 

"  Hearest  thou  not,"  she  continued,  "  she  already 
calls  thee ! "  And  extending  her  lips,  between  which 
she  had  inserted  a  fresh  berry,  the  dove  eagerly  seized 
and  devoured  it. 


63 

"  Ah,  querida  mia!  "  she  murmured  softly,  kissing  it 
again.  "  Now  fly  away  quickly  like  a  good  little 
Jaquino  before  some  wicked  senor  comes  to  catch  thee 
for  his  breakfast !  "  And  tossing  the  dove  lightly  into 
the  air  with  an  "  &  Dios,"  it  hovered  over  her  head 
for  an  instant,  then  flew  straight  away  over  the  old 
Posada  back  to  Padre  Antonio's  garden  where  its  mate 
awaited  it. 

A  sigh  escaped  her  as  she  watched  the  flight  of 
the  bird.  How  free  of  the  cares  and  responsibilities  of 
the  world  the  winged  creatures  seemed.  She  turned  to 
the  bench  once  more  and  was  in  the  act  of  picking  up 
her  basket,  when  her  attention  was  suddenly  arrested 
by  the  sound  of  footsteps  close  at  hand,  and  wheeling 
around,  she  came  face  to  face  with  Captain  Forest. 

The  little  cry  of  surprise  that  escaped  her  interrupted 
the  Captain's  meditations  who,  with  eyes  cast  on  the 
ground,  might  otherwise  have  walked  straight  into  her. 

"  A  thousand  pardons,  Senorita !  "  he  exclaimed  in 
Spanish,  stopping  abruptly  and  raising  his  hat. 

"  I  — "  He  paused  as  her  full  gaze  met  his  which 
to  his  surprise  was  almost  on  a  level  with  his  own. 
What  a  face !  Could  his  sensations  have  been  analyzed, 
they  might  have  coincided  with  those  of  Padre  An 
tonio's  on  beholding  his  protegee  when  she  stepped  from 
the  stagecoach  on  her  return  from  the  convent. 

The  broad  sweep  of  her  brow,  her  penetrating  gaze, 
her  straight  nose,  high  cheek  bones  and  delicately 
molded  lips  and  chin  and  grace  of  her  supple,  sinu 
ous  body,  together  with  the  picturesqueness  of  her  cos 
tume,  presented  a  picture  of  striking  beauty. 


64  WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE 

"  Why,"  he  continued  abruptly,  "  you  are  the  woman 
that  danced  at  Carlos  Moreno's !  The  Senorita  Chi- 
quita  about  whom  the  whole  town  is  talking !  " 

"Ah!  you  saw  me  dance,  Senor? "  she  asked,  be 
traying  a  slight  embarrassment. 

"  I  wouldn't  have  missed  it  for  the  world !  Such  a 
performance  —  I  — "  again  he  paused,  regarding  her  in 
tently.  "  Do  you  know,  Senorita,  all  the  while  I 
watched  you  dance  there  seemed  to  be  something  famil 
iar  about  you.  It  seemed  as  though  I  had  seen  you 
somewhere  before." 

"  Yes  ?  "  she  queried,  her  dark  eyes  glowing  and  a 
faint  flush  mounting  to  her  cheeks. 

"  Yes,"  he  answered.  "  Ever  since  then  I  have  been 
trying  to  think  where  it  could  have  been.  Ah !  "  he 
exclaimed,  stepping  backwards  and  eyeing  her  critically. 
"  Just  turn  your  head  that  way  again.  There,  that's 
it!  I  knew  I  had  seen  you  before!  Do  you  remember 
the  night  we  met  a  year  ago  on  the  trail  below  La 
Jara?  " 

A  smile  parted  her  full  rose-red  lips,  displaying  her 
pearly  teeth.  "  I  remember  it  well,  Senor,"  she  an 
swered,  casting  down  her  eyes  for  an  instant.  "  I  rec 
ognized  you  the  instant  I  saw  you." 

"  Strange,"  he  muttered  half  to  himself.  Then,  after 
a  rather  embarrassing  silence,  he  said :  "  That  was 
a  fine  horse  you  rode.  Do  you  live  here  at  the  Posada, 
Senorita?" 

"  No.     I  live  with  Padre  Antonio." 

"Padre  Antonio?     Ah,  yes!"  he  exclaimed,  recall- 


WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE  65 

ing  the  conversation  at  Pedro  Romero's  gambling  hall. 
"Tell  me,"  he  continued,  "who  is  Padre  Antonio?" 

"  Ah !  I  see  you  have  not  been  long  in  Santa  Fe, 
Senor,  else  you  must  have  heard  something  about  him. 
Everybody  knows  Padre  Antonio  —  he  is  our  priest." 

"  Both  you  and  he  must  have  been  absent  when 
I  was  here  before,  otherwise  I  must  have  met  you,"  he 
answered. 

At  this  moment  the  tall  figure  of  a  man,  dressed 
in  a  suit  of  light  gray  material  with  a  soft  felt  hat 
to  match,  appeared  in  the  doorway  of  the  Inn.  His 
eyes,  like  his  hair  and  mustache,  were  dark  brown.  His 
hands  were  long  and  slender  and  delicate  as  a  woman's, 
yet  there  was  nothing  effeminate  in  his  appearance. 
His  strong,  sensitive  features  and  roving,  piercing  eyes 
and  alert  carriage  indicated  courage  and  energy. 

He  paused  as  he  caught  sight  of  the  two  figures  be 
fore  him.  Then,  with  an  exclamation  of  surprise,  he 
stepped  quickly  out  on  to  the  veranda.  "  Jack !  "  he  ex 
claimed.  "  When  did  you  get  here?  " 

Turning  swiftly,  Captain  Forest  saw  Dick  Yankton 
standing  before  him.  "Dick!"  he  cried,  and  rushing 
up  the  veranda  steps,  seized  him  by  both  hands.  "  I've 
been  wondering  where  I  would  find  you !  You  evidently 
didn't  get  my  letter?" 

"  No,"  replied  his  companion.  "  I  only  returned 
from  the  mountains  late  last  night.  It's  probably  wait 
ing  for  me  here." 

"The  Senores  know  one  another?"  interrupted 
Chiquita,  also  ascending  the  veranda. 


66  WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE 

"Know  one  another?  Senorita,  we  are  brothers," 
said  Dick. 

"  Brothers  ?  "   she  echoed,   surprised   and  perplexed. 

"  Yes,  Senorita,  all  but  in  name,"  interposed  the  Cap 
tain. 

"  Ah !  I  see.  Brothers  in  fortune !  " 
"  Exactly,"  replied  Dick.  "  But  what  is  all  this  I  hear 
concerning  your  doings,  Senorita?  I'd  have  given  my 
best  horse  to  have  seen  you  dance,  but,  as  you  see, 
I'm  too  late.  A  pretty  nest  of  hornets  you've  stirred 
up  in  the  old  place,"  he  continued.  "  Why,  last  even 
ing  I  met  the  Navaros  on  the  road  on  their  way  home 
and  they  wouldn't  let  me  pass  until  they  had  told  me 
how  wicked  you  were.  Senora  Navaro  even  crossed 
herself  and  said  an  ave  at  the  first  mention  of  your 
name." 

"  Ah,"  she  sighed,  then  laughed  unconcernedly. 
"  I'm  afraid  I've  been  very  naughty,  Senor."  Then 
suddenly  recollecting  her  mission,  she  exclaimed :  "  I  al 
most  forgot  why  I  came  here  this  morning.  I'm  the 
bearer  of  Padre  Antonio's  gift  and  greetings  to  the 
Senora.  It's  her  birthday,  you  know." 

"  Her  birthday?  I  wonder  she  still  dares  have 
them !  "  exclaimed  Dick. 

"  She  does,  nevertheless,"  laughed  Chiquita ;  and 
brushing  back  the  roses  in  her  basket  with  a  sweep  of 
the  hand,  she  disclosed  the  eggs  beneath.  "  Look," 
she  continued.  "  Padre  Antonio's  gift !  Are  they  not 
beautiful  —  just  fresh  from  the  hens!  You  had  bet 
ter  have  some  for  your  breakfast,  Senor,"  she  added. 

"  By  all  the  Saints  in  the  calendar,  they  are  pearls, 


67 

every  one  of  them !  "  returned  Dick  enthusiastically, 
eyeing  the  contents  of  the  basket.  "  Thrice  blessed 
be  thy  hens,  Senorita !  We'll  have  eggs  with  our  choco 
late  out  here  on  the  veranda !  " 

"  I  thought  so ! "  came  a  sharp  voice  from  the  other 
side  of  the  doorway  just  behind  them,  "  as  usual, 
talking  with  the  Senores ! "  and  Seiiora  Fernandez, 
with  flushed  cheeks  and  a  spiteful  gleam  in  her  eyes 
which  she  took  no  pains  to  conceal,  stepped  from  the 
door  into  the  light. 

"  Buenas  dias.  Dona  Fernandez !  "  said  Chiquita,  un 
abashed  by  the  Senora's  sudden  appearance  and  on 
slaught,  "  may  the  day  bring  you  many  blessings ! 
Look !  Padre  Antonio's  greetings,"  and  she  held  up 
the  basket  for  the  Senora's  benefit.  Then,  with  a  subtle 
sarcasm  which  she  knew  would  avenge  her  amply  for 
the  Senora's  unprovoked  attack,  she  said :  "  I  stopped 
to  inquire  what  the  Senores  would  have  for  their  break 
fast.  They  say  they  will  have  eggs  with  their  choco 
late." 

"  Indeed !  Eggs  and  chocolate  —  chocolate  and 
eggs!"  angrily  retorted  the  Senora,  "just  as  though 
one  didn't  know  what  everybody  takes  for  breakfast!" 
But  without  waiting  for  her  to  finish,  Chiquita  van 
ished  through  the  doorway  with  her  basket;  her  low 
laughter,  followed  by  a  snatch  of  song  just  audible  from 
within,  serving  to  increase  the  Senora's  irritation. 

"  Holy  God !  I  sometimes  think  the  devil  is  inside 
of  that  girl !  "  she  exclaimed,  vexed  beyond  measure. 

"  Ah,  but  what  a  sweet  one !  "  laughed  Dick.  "  I 
wouldn't  mind  being  possessed  of  the  same  myself." 


68  WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE 

"  Bah,  Senor !  you  talk  like  a  fool !  "  she  retorted. 
"  I  pray  you,  do  not  think  too  poorly  of  us,  Senor 
Capitan,"  she  continued  in  an  apologetic  tone,  turn 
ing  to  Captain  Forest.  "  I  assure  you,  all  the  women 
in  Santa  Fe  are  not  so  bold  as  the  Senorita  Chiquita." 

"  No,  most  of  them  are  a  tame  lot !  "  broke  in  Dick, 
secretly  enjoying  the  Senora's  discomfiture. 

"  Caramba!  your  speech  grows  more  foolish  as  you 
talk,  Senor !  "  returned  the  Senora  in  a  tone  of  in 
tense  disgust.  "  I  see,  you  too  have  fallen  under  her 
spell.  They  say  she  has  the  evil-eye,  Senor  Capitan," 
she  went  on,  addressing  the  Captain  again. 

"  Evil-eye  —  ha,  ha !     What  next?  "  laughed  Dick. 

"  Blood  of  the  Saints !  I'll  no  longer  waste  my  time 
with  you,  Senor ! "  and  with  an  angry  swish  of  her 
skirt,  she  turned  and  disappeared  in  the  house. 


VII 

£  l\  7i  THAT  does  she  mean  by  the  evil-eye?"  asked 

*    »      the  Captain  after  the  sounds  of  the  Senora's 

footsteps  had  died  away  in  the  corridor  within  the  house. 

"Nothing  —  it's  only  jealousy.  Chiquita  being  the 
acknowledged  belle  of  the  town,  most  of  the  other  women, 
especially  those  of  pure  Spanish  blood,  are  jealous  as 
cats  of  her,  and  seldom  miss  an  opportunity  of  saying 
spiteful  things  about  her.  That's  why  her  dancing  has 
caused  such  a  row.  And  yet,"  he  continued,  seating 
himself  on  the  veranda  rail,  his  back  against  one  of  its 
wooden  pillars,  "  I  can't  see  why.  It's  race  hatred  of 
course,  but  there's  really  no  reason  for  it  because  she's 
the  best  educated  woman  between  here  and  the  City  of 
Mexico.  Padre  Antonio  saw  to  it  that  she  received  the 
best  Mexico  had  to  give.  Why,  she  speaks  French  and 
English  almost  as  well  as  she  does  Spanish.  If  she 
were  a  mestizo,  or  half-caste,  things  would  go  hard  with 
her,  but  being  a  full-blood,  she's  easily  a  match  for 
them  all." 

"  She's  certainly  an  unusual  woman,"  said  the  Cap 
tain  ;  "  one  you  would  hardly  expect  to  find  in  this  out- 
of-the-way  place." 

"  Oh,  that's  one  of  the  many  paradoxes  in  life," 
answered  Dick.  "  I've  met  many  a  remarkable  person 
ality  in  the  most  remote  regions  during  my  wanderings. 

69 


70  WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE 

But,"  he  continued,  abruptly  changing  the  topic  of  con 
versation,  "  what  brings  you  back  here?  I  always  felt 
you  would  come  back  to  this  country  again.  Civiliza 
tion  isn't  all  it's  cracked  up  to  be,  is  it?  " 

"  It  was  a  hard  wrench  just  the  same,"  returned  the 
Captain,  "  especially  when  one  — " 

"  Did  you  hear  that?  "  suddenly  interrupted  Dick, 
rising  from  his  seat  on  the  veranda  rail  and  gazing  in 
tently  down  the  highroad.  The  sounds  of  a  vehicle  and 
hoof-beats  on  the  hard  road,  mingled  with  the  shouts  of 
a  driver,  the  crack  of  a  whip  and  tinkle  of  bells,  were 
distinctly  heard,  and  presently,  a  heavy  lumbering  stage 
coach  enveloped  in  a  cloud  of  white  dust  and  drawn  by 
four  mules  was  seen  coming  down  the  road  at  full  gallop. 

The  sounds  had  also  aroused  the  household.  Senora 
Fernandez  at  the  head  of  a  troop  of  peons  and  women 
rushed  out  of  the  house,  talking  and  gesticulating  excit 
edly  as  they  swarmed  over  the  veranda  and  down  the 
steps  in  front  of  the  Posada,  for  all  the  world  like  a  dis 
tracted  colony  of  ants. 

"  Dios!  what  can  have  happened  to  the  stage  that  it 
comes  in  the  morning  instead  of  the  evening?  "  she  cried 
breathlessly,  quite  forgetting  her  recent  ill  humor  in 
the  excitement. 

"  There's  no  stage  at  this  hour,"  said  Dick. 

"  But  there  it  comes !  "  answered  the  Captain. 

"  It's  not  the  regular  stage,"  returned  Dick ;  "  a 
party  of  tourists,  most  likely !  I  see  a  lot  of  women  1  " 
he  added,  as  the  occupants  on  the  outside  of  the  stage 
came  more  clearly  into  view. 

Suddenly  Captain  Forest  started,  gasped,  and  gripped 


WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE  71 

one  of  the  veranda  pillars  with  his  right  hand.  "  No  — 
it  can't  be ! "  he  muttered,  passing  his  free  hand  across 
his  eyes  as  though  to  dispel  an  illusion. 

"  What's  the  matter,  Jack?  "  asked  Dick. 

"  God  in  heaven !  what  can  have  brought  them  here?  " 
he  cried,  ignoring  his  companion's  question  and  lean 
ing  out  over  the  veranda  rail,  his  gaze  riveted  on  the 
stage. 

"  Friends  of  yours?  "  asked  Dick  again. 

"  Friends  ?     It's  the  whole  family !  " 

Dick  gave  a  prolonged  whistle. 

The  women  and  peons,  clamoring  vociferously,  in 
stantly  surrounded  the  stage  as  it  drew  up  before  the 
Posada  with  a  great  clatter  of  wheels  and  hoofs ;  assist 
ing  its  occupants  to  alight  and  carrying  the  luggage 
into  the  house. 

On  the  box  beside  the  driver  sat  Blanch  Lennox,  look 
ing  a  trifle  pale  the  Captain  thought,  and  Bessie  Van 
Ashton,  his  cousin,  a  pretty  blond  with  large  violet  eyes 
and  small  hands  and  feet  that  matched  her  slender,  wil 
lowy  figure. 

"  Is  this  the  infernal  place?  "  came  a  voice  from  the 
interior  of  the  coach  that  sounded  more  like  a  snarl  of 
a  wild  beast  than  a  human  voice.  "  If  ever  I  pass  an 
other  night  in  such  a  damned  ark  — "  came  the  voice 
again,  as  its  possessor,  Colonel  Van  Ashton,  enveloped 
in  a  much  wrinkled  traveling  coat,  stepped  with  difficulty 
from  the  coach  to  the  ground.  "  I'm  so  stiff  I  can 
hardly  walk !  Ough !  "  he  cried,  and  his  right  hand 
went  to  his  back  as  a  fresh  spasm  of  pain  seized  him. 

"  It's  just  what  I  told  you  it  would  be  like !     The 


72  WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE 

country's  beastly  —  beastly !  "  and  Mrs.  Forest,  white 
with  dust  and  completely  exhausted  by  the  journey,  fol 
lowed  the  Colonel,  supported  on  either  side  by  her  maid 
and  her  brother's  valet. 

"  Merciful  God !  they  must  be  very  grand  people  to 
talk  so  foolish !  "  ejaculated  the  Senora  who  knew  enough 
English  to  grasp  the  import  of  Mrs.  Forest's  words. 
Although  she  had  never  devoted  much  time  to  the  study 
of  the  language,  she  had  picked  up  a  smattering  of  Eng 
lish  from  the  Americans  and  Englishmen  who  annually 
stopped  at  the  Posada  on  their  way  to  the  mines  in  the 
interior  of  the  country  in  which  much  foreign  capital 
was  invested. 

"  Why,  there's  Jack!  "  cried  Bessie,  dropping  lightly 
from  the  box  into  the  arms  of  two  peons  who  stood  below 
to  assist  her  to  the  ground. 

"  Hello,  Jack ! "  she  continued,  advancing,  "  I'll 
wager  you  didn't  expect  to  see  us  this  morning,  did 
you  ?  " 

The  Captain  noted  the  ring  of  sarcasm  in  her  voice 
as  she  concluded. 

"  I  confess  I  did  not,  Cousin,"  he  answered,  descend 
ing  the  veranda  to  meet  them.  "  What  in  the  world 
brought  you  here?  "  he  asked,  taking  his  cousin's  hand. 

"  Oh !  we  thought  we'd  like  to  see  a  little  more  of  the 
world  before  we  became  too  old  to  enjoy  traveling,"  she 
answered,  with  a  peculiar  little  laugh  that  was  all  her 
own  and  which  usually  conveyed  a  sense  of  uneasiness 
to  those  toward  whom  it  was  directed. 

"  How  much  longer  are  you  going  to  stand  there  ask 
ing  idiotic  questions?  "  broke  in  Mrs.  Forest  with  a 


WHEX  DREAMS  COME  TRUE  73 

furious  glance  at  her  son.  "  Can't  you  see,  I'm  nearly 
dead?" 

"  Really,  Mother,  I'm  very  sorry,"  returned  the  Cap 
tain,  "  but  it's  all  your  own  fault,  you  know.  Why  did 
you  come?  " 

"Our  fault  —  why  did  we  come?  It's  your  fault  — 
your  fault,  sir !  "  she  almost  screamed,  and  ended  by 
laughing  hysterically. 

Colonel  Van  Ashton  who  had  been  nursing  his  wrath 
all  night  long  while  being  bumped  over  a  rough  road  in 
an  old  broken-down  stagecoach,  required  but  the  sight 
of  his  nephew  to  cause  an  explosion.  He  had  not  closed 
his  eyes  during  the  entire  night,  and  like  his  sister,  Mrs. 
Forest,  was  in  a  state  of  collapse.  His  usually  florid 
complexion  had  turned  to  a  brilliant  crimson,  giving  him 
the  appearance  of  an  overheated  furnace. 

He  regarded  himself  as  a  martyr,  nay,  worse  —  an 
innocent  victim  of  fate  who,  entirely  against  his  will, 
had  been  cruelly  dragged  into  the  present  intolerable 
situation  by  the  caprice  of  his  accursed  nephew. 

He  had  suffered  long  and  patiently  all  that  mortal 
flesh  and  blood  could  endure.  But,  thank  God,  there 
were  compensations  in  this  life  after  all  —  the  object  of 
his  wrath  stood  before  him  at  last. 

"  So  this,  sir,  is  what  you  call  returning  to  nature, 
is  it?  "  he  cried  in  a  hoarse  roar,  controlling  his  voice 
with  difficulty  and  glaring  savagely  at  his  nephew. 

"  It's  evidently  not  to  your  liking,  Uncle,"  replied  the 
Captain  quietly,  doing  his  best  to  keep  from  laughing 
in  his  face. 

"  Liking " —  roared    the    Colonel    again,    his    voice 


74  WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE 

raised  to  the  breaking  pitch  — "  I  never  thought  I'd  get 
to  hell  so  soon !  Why,  sir,"  lie  continued,  knocking 
a  cloud  of  dust  from  his  hat,  "  this  isn't  nature,  this  is 
geology !  I  don't  see  how  you  ever  discovered  the 
damned  country!  The  wind-swept  wastes  of  Dante's 
Inferno  are  verdant  in  comparison  !  You're  mad,  there's 
no  doubt  of  it !  "  he  fumed,  stamping  up  and  down. 

"  Do  you  know,"  he  went  on,  stopping  abruptly  be 
fore  his  nephew,  "  they  say  that,  before  you  left 
Newport,  you  ran  your  touring-car  over  the  cliff  into 
the  sea  —  a  machine  that  must  have  cost  you  fifteen 
thousand  at  least !  " 

"  Well,  what  if  I  did  ?  It  served  me  right  for  desert 
ing  my  horse  for  the  devil's  toy.  Thank  God,  I'm  rid 
of  the  infernal  machine !  " 

"  Look  here,  Jack  Forest  — "  but  the  Colonel's  voice 
broke  in  a  violent  fit  of  coughing. 

It  required  but  little  discernment  on  the  part  of  the 
Mexicans  to  perceive  that  the  meeting  between  Captain 
Forest  and  his  family  was  not  what  might  be  termed 
particularly  felicitous.  Even  Senora  Fernandez  was 
quick  enough  to  perceive  that  things  were  going  from 
bad  to  worse,  and  in  an  effort  to  smooth  matters,  she 
stepped  forward  and  in  her  best  English  said :  "  Senor 
Capitan,  why  did  you  tell  me  not  zat  ze  ladies  were 
coming?  I  might  'ave  prepared  been  for  zem." 

"  My  good  Senora,"  responded  the  Captain,  regard 
ing  her  with  a  look  of  extreme  compassion,  "  I  never 
dreamt  of  such  a  misfortune." 

"  Just  the  sort  of  answer  one  might  expect  from  you ! 
Not  a  word  of  welcome  or  sympathy !  I  always  said  you 


75 

were  the  most  selfish  mortal  alive !  "  cried  Mrs.  Forest 
bitterly. 

"  Senoras,  I  pray  for  you,  come  into  ze  house  at 
once!  "  spoke  up  the  Sefiora  again,  turning  entreatingly 
to  the  ladies.  "  I  you  promess,  zat  wen  you  an  orange 
an'  cup  of  coffee  'ave  'ad,  you  will  yourselves  better 
feel." 

"  The  Senora's  right,"  broke  in  the  Captain.  "  Come 
into  the  house  and  when  you've  — "  but  his  sentence 
was  cut  short  by  the  sharp  report  of  a  pistol,  followed 
in  quick  succession  by  two  other  shots,  and  a  moment 
later  a  man,  breathless  and  without  coat  or  hat,  and 
his  shirt  and  trousers  in  tatters,  rushed  among  them. 

"  Hide  me  quick,  somebody !  "  he  cried.  "  For  God's 
sake  —  the  posse  — "  but  before  he  could  finish,  a  troop 
of  men,  armed  with  six-shooters  and  Winchester  rifles, 
burst  from  the  cover  of  bushes  that  lined  the  high 
road. 

"  There  he  is  yonder,  boys,  behind  that  man !  "  cried 
their  leader  excitedly,  a  small,  thick-set,  broad-shoul 
dered  man  with  sandy  hair  and  beard  and  florid  com 
plexion.  The  others,  following  the  direction  indicated 
by  him,  seized  the  fugitive  who  had  taken  refuge  behind 
Captain  Forest  and  dragged  him  hurriedly  beneath  one 
of  the  cottonwood  trees,  over  a  lower  branch  of  which 
they  flung  a  rope.  Their  work  was  so  expeditious  that, 
before  the  spectators  could  realize  what  was  happen 
ing,  they  had  bound  his  hands  behind  his  back  and  fas 
tened  one  end  of  the  rope  about  his  neck. 

"  Stand  clear,  everybody !  "  commanded  the  leader, 
his  gaze  sweeping  the  throng.  Then  turning  to  his 


76  WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE 

men,  he  said :  "  When  I  give  the  word,  boys,  let  him 
swing !  " 

"  Don't,  boys  —  don't !  "  cried  the  prisoner  in  a  de 
spairing,  supplicating  voice,  dropping  on  his  knees. 
"  For  God's  sake  —  give  me  a  chance  — "  but  a  jerk  of 
the  rope  cut  short  his  words  which  ended  in  an  inarticu 
late  gurgle  in  his  throat. 

"  They  are  going  to  hang  him  —  it's  murder !  "  gasped 
Mrs.  Forest,  clinging  to  her  trembling,  terrified  maid 
who  was  already  on  the  verge  of  fainting. 

"  Gentlemen,"  said  the  Colonel,  stepping  forward, 
"  I  object  to  such  an  unheard-of  proceeding !  You  have 
no  right  to  hang  a  man  without  a  trial." 

"  Say,  old  punk,"  cried  the  leader,  turning  savagely 
on  the  Colonel,  "  who's  a  runnin'  this  show?  "  The  well- 
delivered  blow  of  a  sledge-hammer  could  not  have  been 
more  crushing  in  its  effect  on  the  Colonel  than  were  the 
words  of  the  leader ;  he  was  completely  silenced.  Great 
ly  to  his  credit,  however,  he  stood  his  ground.  He  was 
no  coward,  for  he  had  faced  death  and  been  wounded 
more  than  once  in  his  younger  days  on  the  field  of  bat 
tle,  and  had  he  possessed  a  weapon  at  the  moment,  he 
would  have  snuffed  out  the  leader's  life  as  deliberately  as 
he  would  have  blown  out  the  light  of  a  candle,  regardless 
of  consequences.  But  recognizing  the  carrion  with 
which  he  had  to  deal,  and  the  futility  of  further  inter 
ference,  he  quietly  shrugged  his  shoulders,  smiled  and 
pulled  the  end  of  his  mustache.  The  hanging  might 
proceed  so  far  as  he  was  concerned. 

"  Gentlemen,"  spoke  up  the  Captain,  "  what  has  this 
man  done  ?  " 


WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE  77 

"  You'll  learn  that  when  we're  through  with  him !  " 
replied  the  leader. 

Even  were  there  no  doubt  of  the  prisoner's  guilt  and 
hanging  a  well-deserved  punishment,  Captain  Forest, 
nevertheless,  liked  fair  play.  The  blood  surged  to  his 
face.  His  fighting  instincts  and  spirit  of  resentment 
were  thoroughly  aroused.  He  had  seen  men  hanged  and 
shot  down  before  in  the  most  summary  manner,  some  of 
them  afterward  proving  to  have  been  victims  of  gross 
error  and  brute  passion.  He  also  knew  how  futile  it 
was  to  argue  with  men  whose  passions  were  roused  to 
the  fighting  pitch.  The  Colonel's  interference  was  an 
instance  of  how  little  such  men  could  be  influenced.  It 
was  absurd  to  look  for  moderation  under  the  circum 
stances.  There  was  only  one  way  to  save  the  prisoner 
—  the  use  of  the  same  means  employed  by  the  lynchers, 
namely,  force.  Whence  could  such  interference  come? 
How  could  a  man  single-handed  cope  with  a  well-armed 
body  of  men  of  their  type?  Only  a  miracle  could  save 
the  prisoner  and  the  intervention  of  a  miracle  is  always 
a  slender  prop  upon  which  to  lean. 

"  Now,  boys,"  continued  the  leader,  turning  to  his 
men,  "  get  ready  — "  but  his  voice  was  drowned  by  a 
chorus  of  cries  and  screams  from  the  women. 

"  Silence !  "  he  roared.     "  Stop  that  damn  noise !  " 

"  I  would  like  to  know,  sir,  who  gave  you  authority 
to  shut  our  mouths  ?  "  and  Blanch  Lennox  planted  her 
self  squarely  before  him.  So  astonished  was  he  by 
her  sudden  appearance  and  outburst,  that  he  fell  back  a 
pace.  He  seemed  to  have  lost  his  voice,  and  only  after 
much  hemming  and  hawing,  managed  to  stammer  an 


78  WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE 

awkward  apology  while  vainly  endeavoring  to  conceal 
his  embarrassment. 

"  Ladies,"  he  finally  began,  removing  his  hat  in  an 
attempt  at  politeness,  "  I'm  powerful  sorry  to  be  obliged 
to  perform  this  painful  duty  contrary  to  your  wishes, 
but  the  law  must  be  obeyed.  We've  been  a  chasin'  this 
feller,  who's  the  most  notorious  scoundrel  in  the  country, 
through  the  mountains  for  the  last  three  weeks,  and  now 
we've  got  him,  I  reckon  we  ain't  a  goin*  ter  let  him  get 
away.  Is  we,  boys  ? "  and  he  turned  confidently  to 
his  men. 

"  You  bet  we  ain't !  "  they  responded. 

"  No,  ladies,"  echoed  their  leader  in  turn,  "  not  if 
we  know  it.  Besides,  we've  got  permission  from  the 
Mexican  authorities  to  do  with  him  as  we  like.  I  guess," 
he  added,  "  they'll  be  about  as  glad  to  be  rid  of  him  as 
we  are.  And  now,  ladies,"  he  continued,  "  if  you  don't 
want  to  witness  as  pretty  a  hanging  as  ever  took  place 
in  these  parts,  you'll  take  my  advice  and  retire  into  the 
house  as  soon  as  possible." 

But  no  one  stirred.  The  tall  handsome  woman  still 
stood  before  him  unmoved,  and  he  was  beginning  to  real 
ize  that  her  gaze  was  becoming  more  difficult  to  meet. 
Somewhat  disconcerted,  he  began  again  in  his  most  per 
suasive  tone. 

"  Ladies,  please  don't  interrupt  the  course  of  the  law 
by  staying  around  here  any  longer  than's  necessary  — 
for  hang  he  will!  "  he  added. 

Still  no  one  showed  the  slightest  sign  of  complying 
with  his  wishes.  The  situation  was  becoming  intoler 
able. 


WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE  79 

"  Ladies,"  he  began  again,  and  this  time  rather  per 
emptorily,  "  you'll  greatly  oblige  us  by  retiring  at 
once." 

"  We'll  not  move  a  step  until  you  take  the  rope  from 
that  man's  neck,"  said  Blanch  firmly  and  unabashed,  still 
holding  her  ground.  Her  words  acted  like  a  challenge. 
His  temper  was  thoroughly  roused,  it  being  a  question 
whether  he  or  a  lot  of  women  should  have  their  way. 
He,  Jim  Blake,  overpowered  by  a  mob  of  sentimental, 
hysterical  women  —  not  while  he  lived ! 

"  Then,  ladies,"  he  answered  curtly,  placing  his  hat 
firmly  on  his  head,  "  if  you  won't  go  into  the  house, 
you'll  have  to  see  him  swing,  that's  all !  "  and  quickly 
detailing  half  his  men  who  lined  up  before  the  spectators 
with  cocked  rifles,  he  shouted  to  the  others  behind  them 
holding  the  rope:  "  Boys,  when  I  count  three,  do  your 
work !  "  There  was  no  mistaking  his  words.  The  pris 
oner  uttered  a  half-articulate  groan. 

"  One  — "  slowly  counted  Blake. 

The  Mexicans  crossed  themselves  and  began  to  mut 
ter  prayers.  Women  screamed. 

"  Two  —  three  — "  but  simultaneously  with  the  word 
three,  was  heard  the  report  of  a  pistol,  and  the  men  pull 
ing  on  the  rope  rolled  on  the  ground,  a  hopelessly  entan 
gled  mass  of  arms  and  legs.  The  rope  had  been  severed 
just  above  the  prisoner's  head,  and  when  the  smothered 
oaths  of  the  men  mingled  with  the  screams  of  the  women 
had  subsided,  Dick  Yankton  with  pistol  in  hand  was 
seen  leaning  out  over  the  veranda  rail. 

"  I  reckon  there   won't  be  any  hanging  at  the   old 


80  WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE 

Posada  this  morning,  Jim  Blake,"  he  said,  calmly  cov 
ering  the  latter  with  his  weapon. 

"  Well,  darn  my  skin !  "  gasped  Blake.  "  Where  did 
you  come  from?  " 

"  Oh,  I  just  dropped  around,"  replied  Dick,  uncon 
cernedly. 

"  Now,  gentlemen,"  he  continued,  addressing  the  men, 
"  I've  got  the  drop  on  Blake,  and  if  any  one  of  you 
moves  hand  or  foot  I'll  send  him  to  a  warmer  place  than 
this  in  pretty  quick  time." 

"  Don't  mind  me,  boys  —  turn  loose  on  him !  "  cried 
Blake  pluckily,  but  nobody  seemed  inclined  to  obey. 

"  It  won't  do,  Jim,"  spoke  up  one  of  his  men.  "  We 
ain't  a  going  to  see  you  killed  before  our  eyes.  Be 
sides,  it's  Dick  Yankton." 

"  Jack !  "  called  out  Dick,  "  free  the  prisoner  and  be 
quick  about  it !  " 

"  You're  interfering  with  the  law !  "  roared  Blake,  as 
the  Captain  proceeded  to  obey  Dick's  command. 

"  I  know  it,"  replied  Dick ;  "  it  isn't  the  first  time 
I've  interfered  with  it  either.  Besides,  I  don't  see  why 
I  haven't  got  as  good  a  right  to  it  as  you  or  any  other 
man."  Blake  sputtered  and  squirmed  helplessly  as  he 
faced  Dick's  weapon,  not  daring  to  lift  a  hand. 

"What  objection  have  you  got  to  our  ridding  the 
earth  of  this  damned  scoundrel,  I'd  like  to  know?  "  he 
asked,  choking  with  rage. 

"  Oh,  as  to  that,  I've  got  several,  Jim  Blake,  and  one 
of  them  is  —  I  don't  like  to  see  a  man  hanged  before 
breakfast.  It  sort  of  takes  away  one's  appetite,  you 


WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE  81 

know,"  he  added,  coolly  eyeing  his  adversary  over  the 
barrel  of  his  pistol. 

"  Well,  if  you  ain't  the  most  impudent  cuss  I  ever 
seen !  "  cried  Blake,  by  this  time  almost  on  the  point  of 
exploding. 

"  Perhaps  I  am,"  answered  Dick,  the  faintest  smile 
playing  about  the  corners  of  his  mouth.  "  You're  put 
ting  up  a  pretty  big  bluff,  Jim,  but  I  happen  to  be  hold 
ing  the  cards  in  this  game  and  I  rather  think  you'll  stay 
and  see  it  out. 

"  Bob  Carlton,"  he  continued,  addressing  the  pris 
oner  whom  the  Captain  had  freed,  "  there's  a  black 
horse  in  the  corral  back  of  the  house;  jump  on  him 
just  as  he  is  and  make  tracks  out  of  here  as  almighty 
fast  as  you  know  how ! " 

"  Thank  you,  Dick,  I'll  not  forget  you !  "  cried  Carl- 
ton,  starting  in  the  direction  of  the  corral  but,  catching 
sight  of  Miss  Van  Ashton,  he  stopped  short.  "I  —  I 
beg  your  pardon,  Madame,"  he  stammered,  "  but  would 
you  mind  telling  me  your  name?  " 

"  I  can't  see  what  business  that  is  of  yours !  "  replied 
Bessie  curtly  and  with  a  toss  of  the  head,  turning  her 
back  upon  him. 

"  I  meant  no  offense,  Madame  —  I  — " 

"  Van  Ashton's  her  name,"  said  the  Captain. 

"  Van  Ashton !  "  he  exclaimed. 

"  You  had  better  be  moving,  Carlton  —  you  damn 
fool ! "  came  Dick's  angry  voice.  "  The  next  time 
you're  in  for  a  funeral  I  may  not  be  around  to  stop  it !  " 

Carlton  needed  no  further  urging.     The  sound  of  a 


82  WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE 

horse  going  at  full  speed  was  presently  heard  on  the 
road  beyond  the  Posada. 

"  Don't  any  one  move,"  said  Dick  quietly,  as  all  lis 
tened  in  silence  to  the  sounds  which  grew  fainter  and 
fainter  until  they  ceased  altogether  in  the  distance. 

"  He's  got  a  good  mile  start  by  this  time,"  said  Dick 
at  length,  coolly  lowering  his  pistol  and  returning  it  to 
his  pocket.  "  Gentlemen,"  he  continued,  leisurely  de 
scending  the  veranda,  "  you're  at  liberty  to  follow  him 
if  you  like." 

"  After  him,  boys !  "  yelled  Blake,  suddenly  aroused 
to  fresh  action. 

"  It's  no  use,  Jim,"  said  one  of  his  men,  "  our  hosses 
is  cleaned  blowed." 

"  Damnation !  "  growled  Blake,  tugging  nervously  at 
his  beard.  "  And  now,  Dick  Yankton,"  he  continued, 
confronting  him  squarely  with  both  feet  spread  wide 
apart  and  his  hands  thrust  to  his  elbows  in  his  trouser 
pockets,  "  the  question  is,  what's  to  be  done  with  you? 
I  just  guess  we'll  make  an  example  of  you  for  interfer 
ing  with  the  law." 

"  And  I  guess  you  won't  do  anything  of  the  kind,  Jim 
Blake,  because  there  isn't  a  white  man  in  the  country 
that  will  help  you  do  it." 

"The  devil!"  ejaculated  Blake,  completely  taken 
aback  by  Dick's  coolness. 

"  I  guess  Dick's  about  right  there,  Jim,"  spoke  up 
another  of  his  men. 

Blake  was  about  to  continue  the  argument,  but  real 
izing  that  the  sentiment  of  his  men  was  not  with  him 
and  that  his  position  was  growing  momentarily  more 


WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE  83 

ridiculous,  he  ceased  abruptly.  Rough  though  he  was 
and  of  the  swash-buckler  type,  he  was  neither  insensible 
to  the  humor  of  the  situation  nor  to  the  nerve  it  had 
taken  on  Dick's  part  to  hold  twenty  armed  men  at  bay 
single-handed.  It  is  usually  a  difficult  matter  to  pocket 
one's  pride,  especially  if  one  sees  ridicule  lurking  just 
around  the  corner,  but  few  men  were  capable  of  resist 
ing  the  charm  of  Dick's  personality  for  long. 

"  Come,  Jim,  be  reasonable,"  he  said,  laying  his  hand 
familiarly  on  Blake's  shoulder ;  "  Bob  Carlton  saved  my 
life  once  and  now  we're  quits." 

"  He  did?  Well,  that's  the  only  good  thing  the 
sneakin'  skunk  ever  done !  Why  didn't  you  tell  us  that 
before?" 

"  Because  you  didn't  give  me  time.  You  would  have 
hung  him  first  and  then  listened  to  what  I  had  to  say 
afterwards." 

"Hum!"  ejaculated  Blake,  "I  guess  you're  about 
right  there." 

"  Boys,"  continued  Dick,  turning  to  the  others,  "  I'm 
mighty  sorry  to  have  spoiled  your  fun,  but  I'll  see  that 
you  don't  regret  your  visit  to  Santa  Fe.  Come  into  the 
house  and  I'll  tell  how  it  happened.  The  cigars  and  the 
drinks  are  on  me !  " 

"  Well,  as  I  said  before,  Dick,"  exclaimed  Blake, 
"  you're  the  cussedest,  most  contrariest  feller  I  ever  seen. 
You  got  the  best  of  us  this  time,  but  I  guess  we'll  about 
get  even  with  you  on  the  drinks  before  we're  through  — 
won't  we,  boys?  "  and  amid  a  chorus  of  laughter  and 
good-humored  exclamations,  the  men,  followed  by  Dick 
and  Blake,  crowded  into  the  house. 


84  WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE 

"  What  a  country !  "  gasped  Mrs.  Forest  after  the 
last  of  them  had  disappeared.  "  Have  people  here  noth 
ing  to  do  but  murder  one  another?  "  she  asked  in  a  de 
spairing  voice,  sniffing  vigorously  at  the  bottle  of  salts 
her  maid  handed  her. 

"  Ze  Saints  be  praised,  zey  do  not !  "  cried  the  Senora 
who  by  this  time  had  regained  her  composure.  "  Such 
a  zing  'as  happened  nevair  before." 

"  They  are  a  little  more  free-handed  out  here  than  we 
are,"  remarked  the  Captain.  "  Where  we  come  from, 
people  allow  a  man  to  go  free  after  exhausting  all  the 
resources  of  the  law,  while  here,  they  quietly  hang  a 
scoundrel  when  they  catch  him  without  making  any  fuss 
about  it.  It's  much  simpler,  you  know." 

"  Beautiful !  "  echoed  the  Colonel. 


VIII 

AFTER  much  persuasion  and  further  caustic  re 
marks  on  the  country  and  a  people  whose  chief  oc 
cupation  seemed  to  be  that  of  shooting  and  hanging  one 
another,  Mrs.  Forest  was  finally  induced  to  enter  the 
house,  leaving  Blanch  and  Bessie  seated  on  the  bench  be 
neath  the  cottonwood  tree  where  they  had  collapsed,  the 
result  of  the  shock  their  nerves  had  sustained. 

Their  presence  seemed  as  incongruous  with  their  sur 
roundings  as  that  of  some  delicate  hot-house  flower 
blooming  in  the  midst  of  the  desert. 

"  Could  you  have  believed  it  if  you  hadn't  seen  it?  " 
asked  Bessie,  the  first  to  break  the  silence.  "  Is  it  all 
real,  or  are  we  still  dreaming?  I  wish  somebody  would 
pinch  me,  my  wits  are  so  scattered,"  and  she  passed  her 
hand  across  her  eyes  as  though  to  dispel  some  dreadful 
nightmare. 

"  I  never  imagined,"  replied  her  companion  in  a  vague 
uncertain  tone  of  voice,  like  one  laboring  under  the  in 
fluence  of  a  narcotic,  "  that  such  people  existed  any 
where  outside  of  books,  and  yet  the  samples  to  which 
we  have  just  been  introduced  make  characters  of  fiction 
look  tame  in  comparison.  Oh,  dear !  "  she  burst  forth, 
"  who  could  have  imagined  it  ?  " 

"  What  a  transition  —  I  can't  understand  it !  "  said 

85 


86  WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE 

Bessie.  "  I  feel  like  one  who  has  just  dropped  from  the 
sky  to  earth." 

"  No  wonder !  I,  too,  am  still  seeing  stars.  Jack 
certainly  must  be  mad,  else  how  could  he  have  ever  picked 
out  such  a  forsaken  land  whose  inhabitants  seem  to 
consist  chiefly  of  ruffians  and  black  women?  " 

"  It's  simply  incomprehensible  after  all  he's  seen  of 
the  world,"  replied  Bessie.  "  Did  you  notice  how  he 
enjoyed  our  discomfiture?  How  it  was  all  he  could  do 
to  keep  from  laughing  in  our  faces?" 

"  The  brute!  "  cried  Blanch. 

"  If  we  had  only  realized  to  what  we  were  coming  — " 
Bessie  began. 

"  Oh,  it's  too  late  to  say  that !  "  interrupted  Blanch. 
"  Now  that  I'm  here,  I'm  not  going  to  turn  back ;  I'm 
going  to  see  this  thing  through.  And  what's  more,"  she 
added  with  unmistakable  emphasis,  "  I'm  going  to  see 
that  woman !  Have  you  noticed  any  one  that  looks  like 
her?  "  she  asked  cautiously,  lowering  her  voice  and  look 
ing  about  suspiciously,  as  she  rose  from  her  seat. 

"Pshaw!"  laughed  Bessie,  also  rising  and  shaking 
the  dust  from  her  skirt.  "  You've  scarcely  talked  of 
anything  else  since  we  left  home.  Why,  I  really  believe 
you  are  beginning  to  be  jealous  of  this  creature  of  your 
imagination.  It's  too  absurd  to  suppose  that  Jack  — " 

"  Is  it  any  more  impossible  than  the  people  and  things 
we  have  just  encountered?  " 

"  Nonsense !  Jack  in  love  with  some  half-breed  — 
that  dusky  beauty  in  breeches  who  rides  astride,  and 
whom  he  happened  to  mention  to  us?  It's  preposter 
ous  !  " 


WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE     87 

'"  My  dear,"  resumed  Blanch  calmly,  "  don't  deceive 
yourself.  My  woman's  intuition  tells  me  that  I'm  right. 
Jack's  notion  of  beginning  a  new  life  is  all  nonsense  — 
there's  a  deeper  reason  than  that  for  this  change  in 
him.  Take  my  word  for  it,  there's  a  woman  at  the  bot 
tom  of  it  for  what  possible  attraction  could  this  horrid 
country  and  its  people  have  for  a  civilized  being?  " 

"  I  can't  believe  it,"  answered  Bessie ;  "  you  know  how 
fastidious  Jack  is.  Besides  it  was  only  a  fleeting  glance 
that  he  caught  of  the  woman  he  mentioned  —  and  that 
in  the  twilight." 

"  A  glance  is  quite  enough  for  a  fool  to  fall  in  love  with 
a  phantom,"  retorted  Blanch  warmly,  thrusting  the 
ground  vigorously  with  the  point  of  her  sunshade. 

"  They  say,"  she  went  on,  "  that  these  dark  beauties 
of  the  South  possess  a  peculiar  fascination  of  their  own 
—  that  they  have  a  way  of  captivating  men  before  they 
realize  what's  happening.  They  sort  of  hypnotize  them, 
you  know." 

"  But  not  a  man  of  Jack's  type !  " 

"  Oh,  I  don't  mean  to  infer  that  she's  beautiful," 
continued  Blanch.  "  Attractive  she  may  be,  but  how 
could  anything  so  common  be  really  beautiful?  It's 
not  that  which  worries  me  —  it's  the  state  of  his 
mind.  He  has  evidently  reached  a  crisis.  As  long  as 
I  can  keep  him  in  sight  he's  safe,  but  should  he  be  left 
here  alone  with  one  of  these  women  in  his  present  frame 
of  mind,  there's  no  knowing  what  might  happen.  Any 
woman  if  fairly  attractive  and  a  schemer,  can  marry 
almost  any  man  she  has  a  mind  to.  You  know,"  she 
added,  "  he's  not  given  to  talking  without  a  purpose  and 


88  WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE 

usually  acts  even  though  he  lives  to  repent  of  it  after 
wards.  Why,  if  he  were  left  here,  he  might  marry  from 
ennui,  who  knows?  One  hears  of  such  things." 

"Heavens!  "  ejaculated  Bessie,  "  it  makes  one  shud 
der  to  think  of  it !  Hush !  "  she  added,  nodding  in  the 
direction  of  the  house  where  the  Captain  appeared  in 
the  doorway  and  halted,  regarding  them  with  a  mixed 
expression  of  curiosity  and  amusement. 

"  Well,"  he  said  at  length,  descending  to  where  they 
stood,  "  how  do  first  impressions  of  the  place  strike 
you?  It's  not  so  dull,  after  all,  is  it?  "  he  added,  con 
cealing  his  mirth  with  difficulty. 

"  It's  charming,"  replied  Blanch  in  her  richest  vein 
of  sarcasm,  addressing  him  for  the  first  time  since  her 
arrival.  "  What  delightful  surroundings,  and  what  con 
genial  people  one  meets  here !  " 

The  Captain  burst  into  an  uproarious  fit  of  laughter. 
The  sight  of  Blanch  had  sent  a  sudden  thrill  through 
him  that  told  him  plainly  enough  how  deeply  rooted  had 
been  his  love  and  that  he  had  not  yet  succeeded  in  eradi 
cating  it  entirely  from  his  heart  as  he  had  supposed. 

The  spark  of  the  old  love  still  smoldered  within  him, 
and  would  she  succeed  again  in  fanning  it  into  flame? 
He  had  not  forgotten,  however,  that  he  had  suffered,  and 
her  presence  acted  like  some  wonderful  balm  to  his 
wounded  soul.  It  was  his  turn  now  and  he  could  afford 
to  humor  her.  Though  there  was  nothing  triumphant 
in  his  manner,  he,  nevertheless,  enjoyed  that  sneaking 
feeling  of  satisfaction  which  most  of  us  experience  on 
beholding  the  discomfiture  of  those  who  have  treated  us 
lightly.  Moreover,  he  thoroughly  realized  what  the 


WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE     89 

coming  of  Blanch  and  his  family  meant.  They  had 
come  to  laugh  at  him  and  his  surroundings  —  to  ridi 
cule  his  ideas.  The  great  harlot  world  had  come  to 
pooh-pooh  —  to  scoff  and  laugh  him  out  of  his  convic 
tions,  and  no  one  knew  better  than  he  did  what  the 
mighty  power  and  influence  of  the  great  civilized  guffaw 
meant.  For  had  he  not,  during  his  diplomatic  career, 
seen  the  primitive  man  laughed  out  of  his  cool,  naked 
blessedness  into  a  modern,  cheap  pair  of  sweltering 
pantaloons?  But  things  were  now  equal,  and  this  prom 
ised  to  be  the  most  exciting  diplomatic  game  in  which  he 
had  yet  engaged.  The  defeat  of  Spain  and  the  annexa 
tion  of  the  Philippines  were  trifles  in  comparison.  And 
he  decided  then  and  there  to  make  the  most  of  it  —  that 
come  what  might,  all  who  entered  this  game  would  pay 
the  price  to  the  last  farthing.  Time  and  circumstances 
would  prove  who  was  right  —  they  or  he. 

"  Do  you  know,"  he  said  at  length,  "  I  don't  pity  you 
a  bit ;  it  serves  you  right  for  coming." 

"  Pity  ?  "  retorted  Bessie.  "  Do  we  look  like  a  pair 
of  beggars  that  have  come  two  thousand  miles  to  crave 
pity  at  the  feet  of  the  high  and  mighty  Captain  For 
est?  Your  condescension,  Cousin,  is  insufferable,"  she 
added. 

"  I  was  just  thinking,'*  he  resumed,  thoroughly  enjoy 
ing  his  cousin's  wrath,  "  that  you  had  better  drop  your 
silly  affectations  and  spoiled  ways  while  here." 

"  Really !  "  burst  out  Bessie  again,  her  face  flushing 
with  growing  indignation. 

"  I  do,"  he  returned  placidly,  "  for  somehow,  the  peo 
ple  about  here  don't  seem  to  appreciate  such  things." 


90  WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE 

"  I  can  readily  believe  it,"  answered  Blanch  with  a 
contemptuous  laugh  and  hauteur  of  manner  that  were 
almost  insulting.  "  I  don't  wonder  you  feel  uneasy  on 
our  account  considering  that  we  have  never  enjoyed 
the  advantages  their  social  standards  offer.  We  trust, 
however,  for  the  sake  of  old  friendship,  that  you  will 
overlook  our  shortcomings.  A  lesson  in  manners  might 
not  be  lost  on  us,"  she  added  with  a  withering  glance  and 
tone  that  would  have  reduced  any  other  man  to  a  sere  and 
yellow  leaf. 

She  paused,  her  delicately  gloved  hand  resting  lightly 
on  the  handle  of  her  sunshade  on  which  she  leaned, 
throwing  the  graceful  outline  of  her  tall  slender  figure 
into  clear  relief  against  the  green  background  of  trees 
and  shrubs.  A  strange  light  came  into  her  beautiful 
blue  eyes,  softening  the  expression  of  her  face;  a  face 
that  had  been  the  hope  and  despair  of  many  a  man;  a 
face  that  was  not  alone  beautiful  but  alive  and  interest 
ing;  a  face  into  which  all  men  longed  to  gaze  and  once 
seen  could  never  be  forgotten. 

Only  one  man  had  ever  resisted  the  power  and  fasci 
nation  of  that  face;  the  man  whom  she  had  flung  from 
her  in  an  ungovernable  fit  of  passion;  the  man  whom 
she  either  had  come  to  claim  as  her  own  again,  or  to 
humiliate  as  he  had  humiliated  her.  Who  could  guess 
the  real  motive  that  prompted  her  to  humble  her  pride 
so  far  as  to  follow  him?  Was  it  love  or  hatred?  Who 
could  say?  Her  delicate,  coral  lips  curled  with  just 
the  suggestion  of  a  sneer  as  she  raised  her  eyes  to  his 
again  and  said  in  a  tone  of  contempt :  "  So  this  is 
the  place  where  your  wild  woman  lives  — "  but  the  words 


WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE  91 

died  on  her  lips.  Her  head  came  up  with  a  jerk  and 
her  figure  suddenly  straightened  and  stiffened  as  her 
gaze  became  riveted  on  the  face  of  Chiquita  who  stood 
just  opposite  on  the  veranda  lightly  poised  with  one 
foot  on  the  steps. 

It  would  have  been  interesting  to  have  read  the 
thoughts  of  these  two  women  as  they  stood  silently  con 
fronting  one  another,  each  taking  the  measure  of  the 
other. 

The  contrast  between  the  two  could  not  have  been 
more  striking.  The  soft,  delicate,  well-groomed  figure 
of  Blanch,  the  accomplished  woman  of  the  world,  with 
eyes  intoxicating  as  wine  and  a  glowing  wealth  of 
golden  hair,  tempting  and  alluring  as  the  luxuriance  of 
old  Rome  at  the  height  of  her  triumphs  before  her  deca 
dence  set  in  • —  the  last  fair  breath  of  her  ancient  glory 
—  the  best  and  fairest  that  modern  civilization  had  pro 
duced.  She  had  no  need  of  the  artificial  head-gear  and 
upholstery  with  which  the  modern  society  belle  is  wont 
to  bolster  up  herself.  There  was  not  the  slightest  trace 
of  rouge  on  her  lips  or  cheeks.  She  had  learned  that 
simple  food,  fresh  air  and  sleep  and  exercise  were  the 
only  preservatives  for  the  form  and  complexion. 
Spoiled  though  she  was,  she  was  genuine  to  the  core. 

On  the  other  hand,  what  the  symmetrical  well-rounded 
lines  of  Chiquita's  figure  lost  by  the  unfair  comparison 
of  her  worn  and  faded  dress  with  that  of  the  latest 
Parisian  creation,  was  more  than  compensated  for  by 
the  heavy  luxuriant  masses  of  blue-black  hair,  straight 
nose,  large,  dark  piercing  eyes  that  shone  from  beneath 
delicately  penciled,  broad  arching  brows,  and  the  mys- 


92  WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE 

terious  hawk-like  wildness  of  her  gaze  and  appearance 
and  general  air  of  strength  and  power,  baffling  and  in 
scrutable  as  the  origin  of  her  race ;  a  face  and  figure 
which  exemplified  the  perfect  type  of  a  race  that  carried 
one  back  to  the  forgotten  days  of  ancient  Egypt  and 
India. 

Truly,  twice  blessed  or  cursed  by  the  gods  was  he  to 
be  loved  by  two  such  women ;  the  one  fashion's,  the  other 
nature's  child. 

The  look  of  embarrassment  on  Captain  Forest's  face, 
together  with  the  ludicrousness  of  the  situation,  caused 
Bessie  to  burst  into  a  sudden  fit  of  laughter  into  which 
Blanch,  in  spite  of  herself,  was  irresistibly  drawn.  For 
tunately  for  the  Captain,  he  did  not  entirely  lose  his 
presence  of  mind  as  one  is  apt  to  do  who  unexpectedly 
finds  himself  between  two  tigers  about  to  spring.  He 
did  the  only  sensible  thing  a  man  could  do  under  the 
circumstances.  He  retired  precipitately,  leaving  the 
field  to  whomsoever  wished  it  most. 

"  The  Senoritas  laugh,"  said  Chiquita  at  length,  the 
first  to  speak.  There  was  a  strange  light  in  her  eyes  as 
she  slowly  descended  the  veranda  and  came  toward  them. 
The  sound  of  her  full,  rich,  musical  voice,  colored  with 
a  soft  accent  that  was  pleasing  to  the  ear,  instantly 
brought  Blanch  and  Bessie  to  themselves. 

"  Perhaps,"  she  began  again  calmly,  "  it  is  because 
I  am  poor?  " 

"  Oh,  no,  Seilorita,  how  could  you  imagine  — "  ex 
claimed  Blanch,  recovering  her  breath. 

"  Then  perhaps  it  is  because  I  am  an  Indian  and  red, 
not  white  like  yourselves  ?  " 


WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE  93 

"  Are  you  an  Indian,  Senorita?  "  asked  Blanch.  "  I 
thought  you  were  a  Mexican." 

"  And  if  I  were,  I  would  not  be  ashamed  of  it ! " 

"  What  a  strange  creature !  "  thought  Bessie. 

"  But  why  did  the  Scnoritas  laugh  when  they  saw 
me?  "  persisted  Chiquita,  her  expression  softening  a  bit, 
a  faint  smile  illumining  her  face. 

"  Believe  me,  Senorita,"  replied  Blanch,  "  we  were  not 
laughing  at  you  at  all.  We  were  laughing  at  Captain 
Forest." 

"Ah,  the  Senor!"  ejaculated  Chiquita. 

"  Yes,"  continued  Blanch,  "  we  had  already  heard 
of  you  through  Captain  Forest,  and  —  I  — "  she  hesi 
tated,  "  I  really  can't  explain  because  you  wouldn't  un 
derstand,  you  know." 

"  But  I  do  understand,  Senorita,"  answered  Chiquita 
quietly.  "  You  do  not  deceive  me,  and  since  you  refuse 
to  tell  me  why  you  laughed,  I  shall  be  obliged  to  tell 
you.  I  think  I  can  guess  the  truth." 

"  Really,  I'm  curious !  "  and  Blanch  smiled  compas 
sionately. 

"  Ah,  you  think  I  can't  read  your  face,"  and  Chi 
quita  smiled  in  turn.  "  Senorita,"  she  continued  with 
sudden  emphasis,  "  you  love  the  Senor !  "  Blanch 
started,  the  attack  was  so  sudden,  her  face  coloring 
in  spite  of  her  endeavor  to  conceal  her  confusion. 

"  Yes,  Senorita,  you  love  him." 

"How  do  you  know  I  love  him?"  laughed  Blanch 
lightly  in  turn,  by  this  time  thoroughly  mistress  of  her 
self.  "  Why,  you  have  only  met  me  for  the  first  time !  " 

"How  do  I  know?     Because  I  am  a  woman.     I  saw 


94  WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE 

you  as  you  spoke  to  him.  Your  whole  manner  betrayed 
you  —  your  voice,  your  eyes.  Yes,  Senorita,"  she 
added  with  growing  passion,  fixing  her  dark  piercing 
eyes  on  those  of  Blanch,  "  you  laughed  because  a  poor 
girl  like  me  of  a  different  race  and  color,  a  race  despised 
by  you  white  people,  should  have  imagined  that  Captain 
Forest  might  possibly  cast  his  eyes  upon  her  — " 

"  Senorita !  "  cried  Blanch  protestingly. 

"  It  is  the  truth,"  continued  Chiquita  passionately, 
"  and  what  is  more,  I  will  tell  you  frankly  that  I  —  I, 
too,  love  the  Senor !  " 

"  I  thought  so !  "  exclaimed  Blanch. 

"  Yes,  I  love  him  —  love  him  as  you  do  —  love  him  as 
you  can  never  love  him,  Senorita !  " 

"  What  makes  you  think  so?  "  asked  Blanch,  endeav 
oring  to  stifle  the  emotion  Chiquita's  passionate  words 
aroused  within  her. 

"  I  know  it,"  she  answered  quietly ;  "  something  tells 
me  so.  And  should  he  not  love  me  as  I  love  him,  my 
life  will  go  out  of  me  swiftly  and  silently  like  the  waters 
of  the  streams  in  summer  when  the  rains  cease;  my  soul 
will  become  barren  and  parched  like  the  desert,  and  I 
shall  wither  and  die." 

"  Die?  "  echoed  Blanch.  "  Nobody  dies  of  love  now 
adays,  Senorita,"  and  she  laughed  lightly. 

"  Perhaps  not  among  your  people,  but  with  Indians  it 
is  different.  When  we  love  it  is  terrible  —  our  passion 
becomes  our  life,  our  whole  existence!  Such  a  confes 
sion  sounds  absurd  perhaps,  but  you  assumed  an  air 
of  superiority  —  racial  superiority,  I  mean  —  a  thing 
which  I  know  to  be  as  false  as  it  is  presumptuous.  I 


WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE  95 

might  assume  the  airs  and  attitude  of  one  of  your  race 
if  I  chose,  but  you  laughed,  and  the  race-pride  in  me 
cries  out  that  I  should  be  to  you  what  I  really  am  —  an 
Indian,  not  that  which  I  have  learned  and  borrowed 
from  the  white  race." 

"  How  extraordinary ! "  thought  Blanch.  Surely 
such  passion  was  short  lived  and  a  weak  admission  on 
the  part  of  her  rival.  She  was  a  true  character  of  melo 
drama  —  one  which  she  had  seen  a  hundred  times  on  the 
stage.  The  battle  was  hers  already  —  she  would  win. 
She  heaved  a  sigh  of  relief,  and  drawing  herself  up  to 
her  full  height,  assumed  an  attitude  of  ease,  an  air  of 
patronage  and  condescension  that  only  Blanch  Lennox 
could  adopt.  She  could  afford  to  be  generous  to  a  child, 
treat  with  lenience  this  clever  ingenue  who  in  this  age 
could  die,  or  at  least  imagine  herself  dying  of  love. 

"  Perhaps,"  resumed  Chiquita,  with  an  air  of  naivete 
that  seemed  perfectly  natural  to  her,  "  you  women  do  not 
love  as  passionately  as  your  darker  sisters?" 

"  Oh,  I  don't  know  about  that,  Senorita,"  answered 
Blanch  with  warmth.  "  At  any  rate,  you  in  all  probabil 
ity  will  have  an  opportunity  to  judge  that  for  yourself." 

Chiquita  gave  a  little  laugh,  then  said :  "  Senorita, 
you  love  Captain  Forest  and  so  do  I.  Let  it,  therefore, 
be  a  fair  fight  between  us,  and  in  order  that  you  may 
know  you  can  trust  me,  I  give  you  this,"  and  drawing 
a  small  silver-mounted  dagger  from  out  her  hair,  she 
handed  it  to  Blanch  who  took  it  wonderingly. 

"  It  is  often  safer,"  she  added,  "  for  a  man  to  go 
unarmed  in  this  land  than  for  a  woman.  But  as  I  said, 
I  shall  henceforth  be  to  you  what  I  am  —  an  Indian. 


96  WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE 

It  is  what  a  woman  of  my  people  would  do  were  she  to 
meet  you  in  my  country  under  similar  circumstances; 
what  I  would  have  done  had  I  met  you  before  I  came 
here.  The  knife  signifies  that,  with  it  goes  the  sharp 
edge  of  my  tongue  —  that  I  shall  take  no  unfair  advan 
tage  of  you." 

Blanch  toyed  musingly  with  the  pretty  two-edged 
knife,  admiring  its  richly  carved  silver  handle.  Surely 
she  was  right  after  all.  Chiquita  was  a  true  child  of 
the  South  whose  passions  subsided  as  quickly  as  they 
burst  into  flame.  And  as  for  the  knife,  it  would  make 
an  excellent  paper-cutter. 

"  Oh,  dear,  this  is  too  absurd !  "  she  exclaimed.  And 
no  longer  able  to  control  herself,  she  burst  into  a  peal 
of  laughter  in  which  was  easily  detected  the  scorn,  good 
humor  and  pity  she  felt  for  her  would-be  rival. 

Perhaps  Chiquita  was  as  much  puzzled  by  Blanch's 
behavior  as  the  latter  was  by  hers,  for  all  the  while 
Blanch  laughed,  she  also  regarded  her  with  an  expression 
of  mingled  curiosity  and  amusement. 

"  Seilorita,"  said  Blanch  at  length,  heaving  a  sigh, 
"  who  are  you?  " 

The  latter  did  not  reply  immediately.  Her  face  took 
on  an  earnest  expression  and  for  some  moments  she 
stood  silent,  gazing  straight  out  before  her  as  though 
oblivious  to  her  surroundings.  Then,  suddenly  recol 
lecting  herself,  she  said: 

"  I  am  a  Tewana,  and  am  called  the  Chiquita.  My 
father  was  the  Whirlwind,  the  War  Chief  of  my  people." 

"  The  Whirlwind?  "  echoed  Blanch.  "  What  an  ap 
propriate  name  for  a  savage !  " 


WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE  97 

"Ah,  but  you  should  have  seen  him!  He  was  the 
tallest  man  of  the  tribe." 

"  Do  you  know,"  said  Blanch  musingly,  "  I  fancy  you 
must  be  something  like  him,  Sefiorita." 

"  In  spirit  perhaps,  but  only  a  little,"  she  answered. 
"  I  often  wish  that  I  were  more  like  him,  for  although 
he  was  a  child  in  many  things,  he  was  a  man  nevertheless 
—  civilization  had  not  spoilt  him." 

Again  that  dreamy,  far-away  look  came  into  her  eyes 
and  again  she  seemed  to  forget  for  the  moment  the  pres 
ence  of  the  two  girls  as  her  thoughts  reverted  to  the 
past. 

"  Sefiorita,"  she  said  at  last,  "  when  one  like  me 
stands  on  the  threshold  midway  between  savagery  and 
civilization  and  compares  the  crudities  and  at  times  bar 
barities  of  the  one  with  the  luxuries  and  vices  of  the 
other,  he  often  asks  himself  which  is  preferable,  civiliza 
tion  and  its  few  virtues,  or  the  simple  life  of  the  savage. 
Which,  I  ask,  is  the  greater  —  the  man  who  tells  the 
time  by  the  sun  and  the  stars  or  he  who  gauges  it  with 
the  watch?  I  have  listened  to  your  music  and  gazed 
upon  your  art  and  read  your  books,  but  what  harmonies 
compare  to  nature's  —  what  book  contains  her  truths 
and  hidden  mysteries?  When  I  came  here  I  was  taught 
to  revere  your  civilization  and  I  did  for  a  time  until  the 
disillusionment  came,  when  I  was  introduced  to  the  great 
world  of  men  and  discovered  how  shallow  and  inadequate 
it  was.  Your  mechanical  devices  are  wonderful,  but 
as  regards  your  philosophies,  the  least  said  of  them  the 
better.  Spiritually,  you  stand  just  where  you  began 
centuries  ago,  and  I  found  that  I  should  be  obliged  to 


98  WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE 

deny  the  existence  of  God  if  I  continued  to  revere  your 
institutions. 

"  Believe  me,  Senorita,  for  I  speak  as  one  who  knows 
both  worlds  intimately,  nature's  and  man's,  that  the 
great  symphony  of  nature,  the  throb  of  our  Mother 
Earth,  the  song  of  the  forest,  the  voices  of  the  winds 
and  the  waters,  the  mountains  and  plains,  and  the  glory 
of  the  stars  and  the  daily  life  of  man  in  the  fields,  are 
grander  by  far,  and  more  satisfying  and  enduring  than 
all  the  foolish  fancies  and  artificial  harmonies  ever  cre 
ated  by  civilized  man." 

Her  words  struck  home.  For  the  first  time  Blanch 
became  thoroughly  alive  to  the  danger  of  the  situation. 
This  passionate  child  of  the  South  had  changed  sud 
denly  to  a  mature  woman,  and  a  chill  seized  Blanch's 
heart  as  she  began  to  realize  her  depth  and  power. 
Again  she  was  all  at  sea,  and  in  a  vain  effort  to  say 
something,  she  stammered: 

"  Senorita,  you  are  certainly  the  strangest  person  I 
ever  met ! " 

"  Not  strange,  only  different,"  laughed  Chiquita, 
throwing  back  her  head  and  meeting  Blanch's  full  gaze. 
"  Senorita,"  she  continued,  "  you  are  beautiful  —  more 
beautiful  than  any  woman  I  have  ever  beheld.  My  heart 
stands  still  with  fear  and  admiration  when  I  look  at  you, 
for  men  are  often  foolish  enough  to  love  the  beautiful 
women  best.  I  fear  this  is  going  to  be  a  bitter  struggle, 
but  let  us  bear  one  another  no  malice  in  order  that  we 
may  both  know  that  she  who  triumphs  is  the  better 
woman."  Frank  though  her  words  were,  they  caused 


WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE  99 

Blanch  to  wince,  while  a  flood  of  passion  which  she  could 
ill  conceal  dyed  her  cheeks  a  deep  crimson. 

"  Life's  usually  as  tragic  as  it  is  comic,"  laughed  Chi- 
quita  lightly,  slowly  moving  in  the  direction  of  the  high 
road.  "  It's  strange,  isn't  it,"  she  exclaimed,  pausing 
and  looking  back,  "  that  a  queen  and  a  beggar  should 
dispute  the  affections  of  the  same  man?  Such  things 
occur  in  the  fairy-talcs  one  reads  in  the  books  in  the  old 
Mission,  but  seldom  in  real  life,"  and  she  was  gone. 


IX 


ONSIDERING  an  all-night  ride  over  a  rough  road 
in  a  lumbering  old  Spanish  stagecoach,  and  the 
thrilling,  harrowing  events  that  succeeded  their  arrival 
at  the  Posada,  it  is  little  wonder  that  Mrs.  Forest  took  to 
her  bed  early  in  the  day  on  the  verge  of  a  nervous  col 
lapse,  or  that  Colonel  Van  Ashton,  contrary  to  his  habit, 
retired  early  in  the  evening  firmly  convinced  that  his 
nephew  was  suffering  from  an  acute  attack  of  lunacy 
which  took  the  form  of  a  mania  for  everything  that  was 
wild  and  bizarre;  everything  in  fact  that  was  contrary 
to  the  Colonel's  views  of  life. 

How  unfortunate  that  his  nephew  had  not  shown 
signs  of  madness  earlier!  It  would  have  been  so  easy 
with  the  assistance  of  the  family  physician  and  lawyer 
to  have  confined  him  in  a  private  sanitarium.  And  the 
Colonel  fondly  pictured  his  nephew  wandering  distract 
edly  through  a  long  suite  of  padded  cells  —  but,  alas  ! 
the  bird  had  flown.  Such  things  were  always  expedited 
with  such  felicitous  despatch  in  those  parts  of  the  earth 
inhabited  by  civilized  men,  but  here  where  everybody 
was  equally  mad,  where  chaos  reigned,  and  nobody 
either  recognized  or  respected  beings  of  a  superior  order, 
what  could  be  done  to  check  the  headlong  career  of  his 
nephew  who  with  twenty  millions  was  rushing  straight 
to  destruction? 

100 


WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE  101 

No  wonder  God  had  long  since  abandoned  this  land 
to  his  majesty,  the  devil  who,  as  in  the  days  of  Scrip 
ture,  roamed  and  roared  at  will.  No  one  having  passed 
twenty-four  hours  in  the  country  could  possibly  doubt 
that  his  cup  of  joy  was  running  over.  Where  his 
nephew  had  concealed  his  fortune  was  also  a  source  of 
mystery  to  him.  He  certainly  had  displayed  the  diabol 
ical  cunning  that  is  characteristic  of  the  mentally  de 
ranged.  Possibly  he  had  concealed  it  in  Mexico,  but 
to  combat  the  institutions  of  that  land  was  like  attempt 
ing  to  stem  the  tides. 

The  thought  of  those  twenty  millions  tortured  the 
Colonel's  mind  almost  beyond  endurance,  and  he  groaned 
aloud  as  his  imagination  pictured  them  rolling  in  a 
bright,  glittering  stream  of  gold  and  silver  coins  into 
the  gutter  for  the  swine  that  waited  to  devour  them. 

Such  were  the  Colonel's  reflections  as  he  sat  on  the 
edge  of  his  bed  in  his  shirt  sleeves  and  wearily  removed 
his  tight  fitting,  dust-begrimed,  patent-leather  shoes  with 
the  assistance  of  his  valet. 

How  his  feet  and  back  ached!  He  wanted  sympa 
thy,  but  got  none,  the  others  being  too  much  occupied 
with  their  own  woes  to  think  of  his  comfort.  On  the 
walls  of  the  room  were  hung  numerous  cheap  biblical 
prints  —  the  very  things  he  abominated  most.  Among 
them,  just  over  the  foot  of  the  bed,  on  the  very  spot 
where  first  his  gaze  would  alight  on  opening  his  eyes  in 
the  morning,  hung  a  small  colored  print  of  the  Madonna. 
No  wonder  the  people  of  this  land  spent  so  much  time 
crossing  themselves  and  calling  upon  her  for  protection 
—  they  certainly  had  cause  to.  The  room,  in  his  opin- 


102  WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE 

ion,  was  a  veritable  rat-hole ;  the  place  little  better  than 
what  one  might  expect  to  find  in  a  suburb  of  hell. 

The  exertions  of  the  last  two  days  had  been  more  than 
mortal  could  endure.  Never  had  he  felt  so  completely 
fagged,  and  it  was  with  no  little  concern  that  he  con 
templated  the  reflection  of  his  face  in  the  small  oval 
mirror  which  hung  on  the  rough  gray  plaster  wall  oppo 
site,  just  over  the  small,  cheap,  brown-stained  wooden 
bureau.  The  sight  of  his  countenance,  as  is  the  case 
with  most  of  us  who  have  not  yet  entered  the  limbo  of 
senile  decrepitude  and  still  dare  look  ourselves  in  the 
face,  was  always  a  source  of  extreme  satisfaction  to  him. 
He  held  it  in  the  highest  esteem  as  though  it  were  the 
head  of  some  beautiful  antique  Apollo,  and  in  his,  the 
Colonel's  estimation,  was  the  handsomest  face  on  earth. 

Indeed  it  was  a  handsome  face,  and  like  many  others 
both  in  and  outside  of  his  particular  set,  he  devoted 
hours  to  its  preservation. 

What  was  John,  his  valet,  for?  To  press  his  clothes 
and  run  errands?  Not  at  all.  He  was  there  to  massage 
that  precious  face  and  drive  away  all  harassing  signs 
of  care  and  age  by  means  of  a  liberal  use  of  cold  cream 
and  enamel.  In  the  present  instance,  barring  a  sun- 
scorched  nose,  his  delicately  rouged  cheeks  like  his  ex 
quisitely  manicured  finger  tips  blushed  with  rose  of 
vermilion  like  those  of  the  daughters  of  Judea  of  old,  con 
trasting  favorably  with  his  dark  eyes,  wavy  white  hair, 
and  mustache  and  eyebrows  dyed  a  jet  black.  His 
regular  features,  long  slender  white  hands,  and  tall  erect 
figure  betokened  the  born  aristocrat  of  the  spoiled,  luxu 
rious  type. 


WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE  103 

In  spite  of  his  determination  not  to  sleep  a  wink,  this 
overindulged  child  and  arch  hypocrite,  fell  asleep  almost 
the  instant  his  tired  head  touched  the  pillow,  and  would 
have  slept  to  a  comparatively  late  hour  had  it  not  been 
for  the  ceaseless  crowing  of  a  cock  in  the  barnyard, 
awakening  him  at  daybreak. 

What  a  land,  where  people  were  not  even  permitted  to 
sleep !  Vague  apprehensions  for  the  future  went  flit 
ting  through  his  mind,  and,  as  he  lay  in  bed  moodily 
contemplating  through  the  window  the  first  sunrise  he 
had  witnessed  in  years,  he  cursed  fate  and  his  nephew, 
and  secretly  vowed  that  he  would  wring  that  infernal 
bird's  neck  at  the  first  opportunity. 

Mrs.  Forest's  mental  attitude  resembled  that  of  her 
brother's,  but  with  Blanch  and  Bessie  it  was  different. 
The  strangeness  and  novelty  of  the  situation  so  differ 
ent  from  anything  they  had  hitherto  experienced,  began 
to  interest  them  in  spite  of  their  previous  determina 
tion  to  be  bored.  That  evening  they  had  visited  the 
plaza  with  the  Captain  and  Dick  Yankton  and  had 
witnessed  the  dances  beneath  the  great  alamos  or  poplar 
trees  that  surrounded  the  square,  braving  the  risk  of 
contamination  which  Mrs.  Forest  had  vainly  protested 
would  be  sure  to  ensue  should  they  mingle  with  the 
populace  —  the  Mexican-Indian  rabble  of  which  it  was 
composed  —  a  distinction  which  only  she  and  the  Colonel 
seemed  able  to  divine,  for  had  it  been  a  garlic-tainted 
Egyptian  or  Neapolitan  mob,  little  objection  would  have 
been  raised  to  their  going.  The  sights  amused  and  in 
terested  them,  and  after  an  hour's  mild  dissipation,  they 
returned  to  the  Posada  in  time  to  meet  a  few  of  the 


104  WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE 

Senora's  guests  in  the  garden,  among  whom  was  Padre 
Antonio.  The  quaint,  inborn  courtesy  of  the  well-bred 
Spaniard  was  a  revelation  to  them ;  something  they 
imagined  did  not  exist  outside  of  Spain. 

The  charm  of  the  Padre's  simple  manner  and  ways 
proved  no  less  irresistible  to  them  than  to  the  rest  of 
the  world,  and  they  marveled  that  he  spoke  English 
so  well.  His  intimate  knowledge  of  the  people  and 
the  customs  of  the  country  threw  a  new  light  on  them, 
reconciling  the  girls  to  many  things  that  had  seemed 
incomprehensible. 

The  Senora,  out  of  consideration  for  the  ladies,  by 
whose  presence  she  was  greatly  honored,  had  relin 
quished  her  rooms  to  them ;  the  best  and  most  com 
fortably  furnished  which  the  Posada  afforded. 

It  was  a  late  hour  before  the  girls  retired  for  the 
night.  There  was  so  much  to  talk  over,  and  when 
they  did  finally  lay  themselves  down  to  rest,  it  was 
with  the  conviction  that  Captain  Forest  was  not  quite 
so  mad  as  they  had  supposed.  He  was  at  least  a 
harmless  lunatic  and  in  no  danger  of  running  amuck. 

As  for  Bessie,  the  gentle  hand  of  sleep  soon  closed 
her  eyes,  and  she  slept  the  sleep  of  a  tired  child.  With 
Blanch  it  was  otherwise. 

How  could  she  sleep  with  the  face  of  Chiquita  con 
stantly  before  her  and  the  pangs  of  jealousy  gnawing  at 
her  heart?  How  stupid  to  have  imagined  her  to  be 
one  of  those  bovine  women  with  large  liquid  eyes  who, 
figuratively  speaking,  pass  the  major  portion  of  their 
lives  standing  knee-deep  in  a  pond,  gazing  stolidly  out 
upon  the  world;  a  fat  brown  wench  upon  whose  hip  a 


WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE  105 

man  might  confidently  expect  to  hang  his  hat  by  the 
time  she  has  attained  the  age  of  forty. 

Nothing  could  have  been  farther  from  the  mark.  She 
might  have  known  that  Jack  could  not  have  been  caught 
with  so  thin  a  bait.  All  night  long  she  tossed  on  her 
pillow,  or  silently  rose  to  gaze  at  the  stars  from  the 
window. 

"  Oh,  if  she  only  were  not  so  beautiful !  "  she  moaned 
as  the  first  pale  streaks  of  light  in  the  east  told  her  that 
day  had  finally  dawned,  and  she  crept  stealthily  back  to 
bed  again.  Of  course  Jack,  the  wretch,  was  sleeping 
peacefully  —  that  was  the  irony  of  fate !  What  did 
he  know  of  suffering?  But  he  would  pay  for  this! 

Their  rooms  overlooked  the  patio,  and  from  behind 
an  angle  of  a  screen  she  could  look  straight  across  it 
into  the  garden  beyond  as  she  lay  in  bed.  The  bright 
shafts  of  the  morning  sun  sifted  down  through  the 
branches  of  the  trees  and  lay  in  patches  of  gold  on  the 
grass  and  flowers  beneath  and  flooded  the  patio  with 
light.  Above  the  tops  of  the  trees  and  one  corner  of 
the  low  roof,  the  clear,  pale  blue  skyline  was  just  visible. 
Butterflies  and  humming-birds  darted  in  and  out  among 
the  fragrant  white  clematis  and  honeysuckle  and  pas 
sion  vines  that  hung  from  the  arcades  surrounding 
the  court,  or  hovered  over  the  fountain  and  basin  of 
gold  fish  in  its  center,  edged  with  grasses  and  ferns. 
The  notes  of  the  golden  oriole  and  cooing  of  pigeons 
and  wood-doves  mingling  with  the  silvery  jingle  of  an 
occasional  vaquero's  spurs,  came  from  the  garden  be 
yond. 

How  peaceful  it  was!     After  all,  why  was  the  place 


106  WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE 

so  unusual,  so  different  from  the  rest  of  the  world? 
But  forget  where  one  was,  and  the  scene  might  have 
been  one  in  Algiers  or  Egypt,  or  in  a  town  in  Spain  or 
Northern  Italy.  And  why,  she  asked  herself,  as  her 
thoughts  reverted  to  Chiquita,  was  this  Indian  woman 
so  very  different  from  themselves? 

Dress  her  as  they  were  dressed,  and  place  her  in  the 
proper  surroundings,  and  she  would  easily  pass  for  a 
Gypsy  or  a  Spaniard.  Was  there  any  reason  to  be 
lieve  that  the  queens  of  Sheba  and  Semiramis  with 
their  tawny  skins  were  any  less  fair  than  she,  Blanch 
Lennox,  with  her  rosy,  soft  white  complexion?  Or 
Chiquita  a  shade  darker  than  Cleopatra,  the  witch 
of  the  Nile,  whose  beauty  caused  the  downfall  of  An 
tony  and  with  it  the  waning  power  and  splendor  of 
ancient  Egypt? 

Was  her  lineage  superior  to  Chiquita's,  the  descend 
ant  of  a  long  line  of  rulers  whose  ancestry  stretched 
back  into  the  dim,  remote  past  as  ancient  as  the  hills, 
the  record  of  whose  lives  and  deeds  stood  inscribed 
on  the  ruined  temples  and  palaces  scattered  through 
out  the  land  where  they  once  dwelt  at  a  time  when 
her  European  ancestors  roamed  the  wilderness  half 
naked  and  clad  in  the  skins  of  wild  beasts? 

White  men  of  eminence  had  married  Indians  and 
their  descendants  were  proud  of  their  lineage.  True, 
Chiquita  was  an  exception  just  as  she  towered  above 
most  women  of  her  race.  And  who  were  they,  that 
they  should  criticize  —  vaunt  their  superiority  in  the 
face  of  the  universal  scheme  of  things?  Were  they 
really  any  better?  The  same  passions,  longings  and 


WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE  107 

aspirations  that  swayed  them,  swayed  the  Red  man  as 
well. 

Their  daily  lives  were  different  —  their  aspirations 
were  directed  in  different  channels,  that  was  all.  What 
was  true  civilization  and  culture,  any  way?  Who  had 
ever  succeeded  in  defining  them?  The  so-called  civi 
lized  world  might  prattle  of  culture.  Its  ideas  com 
pared  with  those  of  mankind  as  a  whole  were  purely 
relative  and  of  a  local  origin  and  color,  and  could  not 
be  gauged  by  a  uniform  standard  of  ethics.  W'hat 
pleases  the  one  fails  to  attract  the  other.  The  man  in 
power  who  talks  of  culture  may  be  taken  seriously  by 
those  of  his  own  race  who  stand  by  and  applaud  his 
words,  but  remove  him  from  his  home  surroundings  and 
place  him  on  a  footing  of  equality  with  those  of  a  dif 
ferent  race  and  environment  and  his  arguments  fail  to 
convince. 

Did  the  harangues  of  Louis  the  Sixteenth's  tormentors 
convince  him  of  the  ethical  standards  of  universal 
justice,  or  John  Brown's  sacrifice  the  representatives 
of  a  slave-holding  population? 

Which  is  the  most  convincing  —  the  example  set  by 
the  early  Spartans,  or  that  of  the  man  who  surrounds 
himself  with  every  luxury  and  convenience  of  modern 
life;  the  man  who  reads  books  and  lives  in  a  house 
and  travels  by  train  and  automobile,  or  he  who  dwells 
in  a  tent,  who  is  ignorant  of  letters,  and  prefers  the 
slower  locomotion  of  horse  and  foot?  Who  is  the  ar 
biter  of  fashion?  The  sun  shines  alike  on  the  just  and 
the  unjust,  the  great  world  still  continues  to  laugh 
and  goes  on  its  way  in  spite  of  men's  philosophies, 


108  WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE 

but  tear  up  the  map,  as  the  French  say,  and  where 
are  our  standards  and  codes? 

Prove  it  if  you  can,  that  the  wild  flower  in  the  meadow 
is  less  beautiful  than  the  one  reared  beneath  the  hand 
of  the  gardener.  Argue  and  theorize  as  we  will,  our 
sophistries  count  for  little  when  we  are  brought  face 
to  face  with  the  realities  of  life.  The  law  of  com 
pensation  and  certainty  of  facts  still  hold  the  balance 
when  the  bed-rock  of  human  existence  is  reached.  One 
might  as  well  expect  the  mountains  to  slip  into  the 
sea,  or  the  stars  to  pause  in  their  courses  to  hearken 
to  the  voice  of  a  modern  Joshua  as  a  man  in  love 
with  a  vision  of  beauty,  to  listen  to  ethics. 

It  was  quite  evident  that  somebody  had  lied.  In 
fact,  all  men  of  her  race  had  been  lying  from  the  be 
ginning  of  time,  for  what,  after  all,  did  civilization 
amount  to  if  it  were  not  convincing?  Did  it  ever  soothe 
a  wounded  heart,  stifle  the  pangs  of  jealousy,  or  was 
it  ample  compensation  for  the  loss  of  the  great  prize 
of  life  —  happiness? 

Civilization  and  blindness  were  fast  becoming  synon 
ymous  terms,  and  there  were  even  moments  when  one 
almost  fancied  one  heard  the  laughter  of  the  gods.  Let 
the  dull  brute  civilized  herd  sweep  by,  all  its  moralizing 
and  sophistries  could  not  arouse  so  much  as  a  single 
heart-beat  where  sentiment  was  concerned. 

The  truth  of  these  convictions  surged  in  upon  her 
with  overwhelming  force.  Had  Jack  also  noted  them, 
she  asked  herself. 

Possibly,  but  not,  perhaps,  with  the  keener  intui 
tion  of  the  woman.  She  breathed  hard.  Hot  tears  of 


WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE  109 

rage,  jealousy  and  disappointment  surged  to  her  eyes. 
She  could  endure  it  no  longer  —  she  felt  as  though  she 
would  stifle.  Suddenly  she  sat  bolt  upright  in  bed  and 
then  sprang  to  the  floor,  noticing  for  the  first  time  the 
pretty  little  Mexican  girl,  Rosita,  who  at  Bessie's  sum 
mons,  had  entered  and  deposited  a  tray  containing 
oranges,  chocolate  and  tortillas  on  the  table  in  the 
center  of  the  room. 

The  dark  circles  beneath  Blanch's  eyes  and  her 
general  appearance  of  a  disheveled  Eve  told  Bessie 
how  little  she  had  slept. 

"  I  knew  you  were  thinking  of  her,"  she  said,  throw 
ing  herself  back  in  the  pillows  and  stretching  her  arms. 
Her  eyelids  drooped  for  a  moment  over  her  great  violet 
eyes  and  she  laughed  lightly  with  the  contentment  of 
one  whose  heart  is  free. 

"  Of  course  I  am,"  returned  Blanch,  coloring  and 
biting  her  lip.  "  What  else  should  I  be  thinking  of?  " 

"  Do  you  know,  I  rather  like  her,"  continued  Bessie, 
raising  on  one  elbow  and  stretching  herself  again  with 
the  delicious  satisfaction  of  one  who  has  slept  soundly 
and  well. 

"  And  I  hate  her ! "  cried  Blanch.  And  seizing 
Chiquita's  dagger  which  lay  on  the  table  beside  the 
tray,  she  plunged  it  viciously  into  an  orange. 


r  I  THINGS  began  to  assume  a  more  favorable  aspect. 

A     Even  Mrs.  Forest  had  plucked  up  enough  courage 

to  venture  beyond  the  confines  of  the  Posada's  garden. 

Late  one  afternoon  as  she  with  Blanch  and  Bessie 
descended  the  veranda  steps,  preparatory  to  a  stroll 
through  the  town,  a  horseman,  dressed  in  the  height 
of  Mexican  fashion,  shot  suddenly  round  the  curve 
in  the  road  at  full  gallop  and  drew  rein  before  them, 
tossing  the  dust  raised  by  his  animal's  hoofs  into  their 
faces. 

Dust  and  a  horse's  nose  thrust  suddenly  into  Mrs. 
Forest's  face  could  hardly  improve  a  temper  already 
strained  to  the  breaking  point. 

"  Are  people  beasts  —  mere  cattle  of  the  fields  to 
be  trampled  upon  by  a  horse?  "  she  gasped,  as  soon 
as  she  had  recovered  sufficiently  from  her  surprise. 

"  A  thousand  pardons  —  I  did  not  see  you !  "  replied 
the  horseman,  his  English  colored  with  a  slight  accent. 

"  What  are  people's  eyes  for?  "  returned  Mrs.  Forest, 
making  no  attempt  to  conceal  her  irritation. 

"  Mrs.  Forest,  I  see  you  do  not  recognize  me,"  an 
swered  the  horseman,  smiling  and  raising  his  broad- 
brimmed  sombrero  which  partially  concealed  his  fea 
tures. 

"  Don  Felipe  Ramirez !  "  cried  Blanch  and  Bessie  in 
110 


WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE  111 

the  same  breath.  "  How,"  exclaimed  Blanch,  "  could 
you  expect  us  to  recognize  you  in  that  costume?  Why 
are  you  masquerading  in  such  a  disguise?"  Don 
Felipe  laughed  as  he  swung  himself  lightly  from  the 
saddle. 

"  It's  the  costume  of  our  people,"  he  answered,  shak 
ing  them  cordially  by  the  hand.  "  It's  the  one  they 
prefer,  without  which  one  cannot  always  command 
their  respect.  They  detest  modern  innovations  and 
cling  to  the  customs  of  their  ancestors.  It's  a  bit  of 
old  Mexico,  that's  all.  But  what  brings  you  here?" 
he  asked,  changing  the  topic  of  conversation.  "  Did 
you  drop  from  the  clouds?  I  would  as  soon  have 
thought  of  finding  oranges  growing  on  the  cactus  as 
seeing  you  here." 

"  Only  a  pleasure  trip  combined  with  a  little  explora 
tion  on  our  own  account,"  answered  Blanch  indif 
ferently.  "  We  hope,"  she  continued,  "  to  emulate  the 
example  of  the  old  Spanish  Conquistador es  —  some  of 
your  ancestors  perhaps  ?  " 

"  Then  may  your  wanderings  lead  you  southward. 
My  hacienda  lies  but  twenty  miles  from  here,  and  from 
this  moment,  it  is  placed  at  your  disposition.  Not  in 
the  polite  terms  of  the  proverbial  Spanish  etiquette 
which  presents  the  visitor  with  everything  and  yet  noth 
ing  at  all,  but  actually.  Indeed,  I  shall  expect  to 
see  you  there  soon.  The  life  will  interest  you,  I 
know." 

"  We  certainly  shall  avail  ourselves  of  the  rare 
privilege,  Don  Felipe,"  said  Bessie.  "  Do  you  intend 
stopping  here  ?  "  she  asked. 


112  WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE 

"  For  a  few  days,  yes.  A  room  is  always  waiting 
for  me  here." 

"How  delightful!"  exclaimed  Blanch.  "We  shall 
expect  to  see  a  great  deal  of  you.  In  the  meantime, 
we  shall  visit  the  town  and  shall  see  you  this  evening. 
Until  then,  a  Dios,  as  you  Spaniards  say.  You  observe, 
we  are  making  rapid  progress  in  the  language,"  she 
added,  smiling  and  glancing  back  at  him  over  her 
shoulder  as  they  moved  away  in  the  direction  of  the 
highroad. 

"  What  a  strange  costume  for  a  man  like  Don  Felipe 
to  wear !  It's  as  gay  and  extravagant  as  a  woman's  !  " 
said  Bessie  as  soon  as  they  were  out  of  hearing. 

"  It's  becoming  though,"  answered  Blanch.  "  This 
is  truly  the  land  of  surprises.  I  wonder  what  will 
happen  next?  " 

"  What  can  have  brought  them  here,  to  this  out-of- 
the-way  place?"  mused  Don  Felipe,  throwing  one  arm 
lightly  over  the  neck  of  his  horse  as  he  leaned  gently 
against  the  animal. 

Don  Felipe  Ramirez  was  young  and  handsome  — 
the  handsomest  and  wealthiest  man  in  all  Chihuahua. 
One  who  measured  his  lands  not  by  acres,  but  by  hun 
dreds  of  square  miles,  over  which  roamed  vast  herds  of 
horses,  cattle  and  sheep,  and  of  which  Chiquita  might 
have  been  mistress  had  she  so  chosen.  Within  this  vast 
domain  were  situated  numerous  villages  of  Mexican  and 
Indian  populations,  subject  in  a  measure  to  his  com 
mand.  His  word,  where  it  did  not  conflict  with  the  cen 
tral  Government,  was  law;  but  Don  Felipe,  selfish  and 
unprincipled  though  he  was  by  nature,  was  too  easy 


WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE  113 

going  ever  to  think  of  making  unscrupulous  use  of 
such  power.  So  long  as  things  went  smoothly,  he  was 
the  last  man  to  exercise  his  almost  unlimited  authority 
for  the  mere  pleasure  of  dominating  others  as  many  men 
might  were  they  placed  in  his  position. 

His  leniency  in  governing,  his  lavish  manner  of  liv 
ing,  and  a  way  he  had  of  fraternizing  with  his  people 
on  occasions  —  the  latter  prompted  not  from  motives  of 
generosity,  but  purely  from  those  of  vanity  and  a  love 
of  popularity  —  made  him  fairly  popular  among  his  sub 
jects.  It  was  when  Don  Felipe  wanted  something  in 
particular  that  he  became  dangerous,  especially  if  that 
something  lay  within  his  jurisdiction.  Then  indeed, 
was  he  one  to  be  feared. 

His  appearance  was  striking;  a  swarthy  complexion, 
thick,  shiny,  black  curly  hair  and  mustache,  lustrous 
black  eyes  and  delicate  features,  and  a  lithe  sinewy 
body,  every  movement  of  which  was  cat-like  and  ex 
pressive  of  treachery. 

His  high-crowned,  broad-brimmed  sombrero  of  gray 
felt  was  richly  embroidered  with  gold  and  silver.  A 
slender,  pale  yellow  satin  tie  adorned  his  soft  white, 
heavily  frilled  shirt  front.  His  soft  gray  jacket  and 
leggins  of  goat  skin,  also  ornamented  with  gold  and 
silver  buttons  and  embroidery,  were  slashed  at  the 
sleeves  below  the  elbow  and  knee  and  interlaced  with 
filmy  gold  cords  from  beneath  which  shone  a  pale  yellow 
satin  facing  embroidered  with  tiny  red  flowers.  A  gay 
scarlet  silken  banda  from  beneath  which  peeped  the 
silver  hilt  of  a  knife,  encircled  his  slender  waist,  while 
his  feet  were  encased  in  russet  tanned  boots  adorned 


114  WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE 

with  spurs  inlaid  with  gold  and  silver  and  which  tinkled 
like  fairy  bells  with  every  step  he  took.  The  trappings 
of  his  horse  were  also  heavily  inlaid  with  silver.  The 
atrical  though  his  costume  was,  it  became  him  well  and 
harmonized  perfectly  with  his  surroundings,  completing 
the  picture  of  a  Spanish  Don,  the  representative  of 
a  past  era.  A  costume  that  was  only  to  be  seen  in 
the  remoter  parts  of  the  country  —  one  which  was  be 
coming  rarer  each  day. 

Four  years  had  elapsed  since  he  had  last  looked 
upon  the  familiar  scenes  about  him.  Nothing  appeared 
to  have  changed  during  that  time  as  his  gaze  wandered 
from  the  old  Posada  to  the  garden  beyond.  He  sighed, 
and  a  momentary,  expression  of  pain  and  weariness 
passed  across  his  countenance  as  he  silently  surveyed 
the  scene  which  recalled  memories  whose  bitterness  was 
enough  to  overwhelm  a  man  of  maturer  character  and 
years. 

In  the  Indian  pueblo,  La  Jara,  had  lived  the  beauti 
ful  mestiza  girl,  Pepita  Delaguerra,  with  whom  he 
had  fallen  in  love  in  early  youth. 

The  gentle,  confiding  nature  of  Pepita  was  ill  suited 
to  that  of  the  passionate,  impulsive  Felipe,  and  proved 
her  undoing.  For,  when  old  Don  Juan,  Felipe's  father, 
heard  of  his  son's  infatuation,  he  immediately  packed 
him  off  to  the  City  of  Mexico  with  the  injunction  not 
to  return  under  a  year.  An  obscure  half-caste  for  a 
daughter-in-law !  Holy  Maria !  the  thought  was  enough 
to  cause  his  hair  to  stand  on  end.  No,  the  old  Don 
had  other  plans  for  his  son.  Maria  Dolores,  Felipe's 
cousin,  was  the  woman  he  had  picked  out  for  his  wife, 


WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE  115 

and  marry  her  he  should  if  he  wished  to  inherit  his 
father's  vast  estates.  In  case  he  disregarded  the  latter's 
wish  and  married  Pepita,  the  estates  were  to  go  to  the 
Church,  so  it  was  stipulated  in  Don  Juan's  will.  But 
neither  the  Church  nor  old  Don  Juan,  as  it  afterwards 
proved,  were  a  match  for  the  clever  Felipe.  The  hand 
some  scapegrace  had  already  secretly  married  Pepita. 

The  strangest  of  all  things  is  perhaps  the  irony  of 
fate.  Before  the  year  was  up  during  which  Felipe 
was  charged  to  remain  in  the  City  of  Mexico,  both  his 
father,  Don  Juan,  and  the  priest  who  had  performed 
the  marriage  ceremony  for  Felipe  and  Pepita,  died. 
During  his  absence  from  home,  the  observant  and  quick 
witted  Felipe  had  learned  not  only  many  new  things, 
but  had  made  the  acquaintance  of  other  women  as  well. 
At  its  best,  the  love  of  the  passionate,  hot-blooded 
Felipe  and  the  gentle  Pepita  could  have  endured  only 
for  a  time.  The  attractions  and  fascinations  of  the 
Capitol  opened  his  eyes  to  many  things  which  he  had 
hitherto  overlooked,  especially,  that  there  are  many 
beautiful  women  in  the  world,  and  always  one  who  is 
just  a  little  more  beautiful  than  the  others  if  one  took 
the  trouble  to  look  for  her.  And  so  it  happened  that 
he  forgot  not  only  his  honor,  but  his  obligations  to 
Pepita,  and  destroying  the  record  of  their  marriage 
which  he  managed  to  secure  with  the  assistance  of  a 
confederate,  he  turned  a  deaf  ear  to  her  pleadings  and 
went  his  way. 

What  had  he,  Don  Felipe  Ramirez,  who  lived  and 
ruled  like  a  prince  on  his  vast  estates,  to  fear  from  a 
pretty  little  half-caste  Indian  girl? 


116  WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE 

But  Don  Felipe  was  young  and  still  had  much  to 
learn  in  the  world.  The  avenging  angel  that  inevi 
tably  awaits  us  all  at  some  turn  or  other  in  the  lane, 
stood  nearer  to  him  than  he  realized,  and  the  vengeance 
which  followed  was  swift  and  complete. 

Pepita  took  poison  and  died,  but  she  died  not  alone 
—  she  died  in  the  arms  of  Chiquita  who  had  but  re 
cently  returned  from  the  convent. 

The  latter  frequently  accompanied  Padre  Antonio 
on  his  charitable  missions  and  thus  it  chanced  that  she 
made  Pepita's  acquaintance  and  learned  her  story. 
Time  passed  and  all  went  well  with  Felipe  until  the  day 
he  chanced  to  meet  Chiquita. 

We  may  deaden  our  souls  to  the  voice  of  conscience, 
disavow  a  belief  in  destiny  and  shut  our  eyes  to  those 
forces  of  the  Invisible  which,  in  spite  of  ourselves,  we 
know  to  exist,  but  how  is  it,  that  no  man  ever  succeeds 
in  escaping  his  fate? 

When  Don  Felipe  Ramirez  looked  for  the  first  time 
into  the  two  dark  lustrous  worlds  of  Chiquita's  eyes,  he 
beheld  the  height  and  depth  of  his  existence.  From 
that  moment  he  fell  at  her  feet  and  worshiped  her  with 
a  passion  that  consumed  and  mastered  him.  Waking 
and  dreaming  she  was  ever  in  his  thoughts  —  he  could 
not  live  without  her.  But  not  until  he  was  mad, 
ravished  with  desire,  did  she  consent  to  become  his 
wife.  A  smile,  or  a  gentle  pressure  of  the  hand  were 
the  only  caresses  she  deigned  to  bestow  upon  him;  not 
until  they  were  married  would  he  be  permitted  to  em 
brace  and  kiss  her,  give  rein  to  his  passion.  A  strange 
attitude  for  one  of  her  nature  to  assume,  and,  as  he 


WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE  117 

looked  back  upon  it,  he  wondered  how  he  had  endured 
it  —  that  he  had  not  suspected  something. 

At  length  the  day  set  for  the  wedding  arrived,  and 
Chiquita  with  Sefiora  Fernandez  drove  in  state  to  the 
old  Mission  church  where  Padre  Antonio  awaited  them 
to  perform  the  marriage  ceremony. 

Don  Felipe,  in  a  state  of  exultation  that  lifted  his 
soul  to  the  clouds,  stood  waiting  for  her  on  the  steps 
of  the  church  as  had  been  agreed  between  them ;  but 
as  the  two  advanced,  Chiquita  suddenly  paused  before 
the  door,  and  turning,  tore  the  bridal-veil  and  wreath 
of  orange  blossoms  from  her  brow  and  flung  them  into 
his  face,  crying :  "  Pepita  Delaguerra  is  avenged !  " 
Then  turning,  she  deliberately  descended  the  church 
steps  and  reentering  her  carriage,  drove  home,  leaving 
Don  Felipe  dazed  and  speechless  before  the  crowd  of 
spectators  that  had  gathered  to  witness  the  passing  of 
the  bride  and  groom. 

Later  she  confessed  the  reason  for  her  motives  to 
Padre  Antonio,  but  one  circumstance  she  withheld  even 
from  him,  the  nature  of  which  Don  Felipe  did  not  sus 
pect,  but  which  he  would  have  given  worlds  to  know. 

Chiquita's  conduct  became  the  scandal  of  the  coun 
try  for  miles  around,  and  as  is  invariably  the  case, 
the  majority  of  the  women  sided  with  Felipe.  In  more 
refined  circles  of  society,  her  act  would  have  been  con 
sidered  highly  reprehensible  and  Felipe  overwhelmed 
with  sympathy.  His  base  ingratitude  would  have  been 
lightly  censured  in  the  familiar,  sugared  terms  of  the 
most  approved  fashion.  He  would  have  been  forgiven, 
and  petted,  and  even  lauded  as  a  martyr  —  and  then,  the 


118          WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE 

world  would  have  forgotten.  With  the  Indian  woman, 
however,  it  was  different. 

On  the  altars  of  her  people  was  still  written,  "  blood 
for  blood,"  the  same  as  in  the  ancient  days. 

Crushed,  humiliated,  his  pride  humbled  to  the  dust, 
Don  Felipe  left  the  country  and  for  four  years  sought 
to  forget  his  shame  and  the  taunts  of  his  enemies  in 
the  distractions  of  the  world.  He  traveled  everywhere, 
was  presented  at  the  different  Courts  of  Europe,  and 
it  was  in  Washington  where  his  uncle  was  the  Mexican 
Minister  to  the  United  States,  that  he  met  Blanch  and 
Mrs.  Forest  and  her  niece.  In  vain  did  he  try  to  for 
get.  In  vain  did  he  search  for  another  woman  to  sup 
plant  his  love  for  Chiquita.  He  plunged  into  the  wild 
est  dissipation,  but  to  no  effect.  The  beautiful  face 
of  the  dark  woman  followed  him  everywhere,  stood 
between  him  and  the  world,  lured  him,  fascinated  him 
still  as  nothing  else  could,  tortured  him  day  and  night 
and  he  knew  no  rest. 

A  thousand  times  he  resolved  to  return  and  kill  her, 
and  a  thousand  times  he  relented,  for  he  loved  her  as 
madly  as  ever  and  could  not  carry  out  his  resolve.  A 
prey  to  alternate  fits  of  remorse  and  hatred,  and  tor 
tured  constantly  by  the  knowledge  of  an  unrequited 
love,  the  soul  of  Don  Felipe  Ramirez  suffered  the  tor 
ments  of  the  damned.  His  unconquerable  love  for 
Chiquita  devoured  him,  gnawed  constantly  at  his 
heart,  and  he  cursed  her  —  cursed  her  as  only  one  of 
his  temperament  who  had  suffered  as  he  suffered,  could 
curse. 

What  could  he  do?     Anguish  succeeded  anguish  until 


WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE          119 

he  was  at  length  drawn  back  again  as  irresistibly  as 
the  magnet  is  drawn  to  the  north,  to  the  woman  he 
both  loved  and  hated.  He  would  throw  himself  at  her 
feet.  He,  the  proud,  arrogant  Don  Felipe  of  former 
years,  and  bowed  in  the  dust,  implore  forgiveness. 
Nothing  was  too  hard.  Any  sacrifice  she  might  demand 
of  him,  he  would  make.  Surely,  when  she  saw  his 
remorse,  his  contrite  humbled  spirit,  understood  his  suf 
fering  and  realized  that  he  could  not  forget  her,  could 
not  live  without  her,  that  he  loved  her  still  through 
all  the  years  of  suffering,  that  his  life  was  irrevocably 
linked  to  hers,  she  would  relent,  forgive  him  —  become 
his  wife. 

His  wife!  The  thought  electrified,  elated  his  being 
to  an  extent  that  it  was  lifted  for  the  moment  from  out 
the  black  depths  of  his  despondency.  If  not,  well 
then,  there  would  be  time  for  the  fulfillment  of  that 
which  must  inevitably  follow  —  either  his  death  or  hers. 


XI 

*  iTTOLY  MOTHER!  but  I  am  glad  to  see  you 
A  -*•  again,  Don  Felipe  Ramirez!  What  blessed 
chance  has  brought  you  back  to  us  again  ? "  Don 
Felipe  started  like  one  in  a  dream,  and  turning  in  the 
direction  whence  came  the  sound  of  the  voice,  he  be 
held  Senora  Fernandez  standing  on  the  veranda  regard 
ing  him  intently. 

"  Dona  Fernandez ! "  he  exclaimed  with  genuine 
pleasure,  advancing  to  meet  her,  and  extending  his 
hand  which  she  eagerly  seized  and  held  between  both 
her  own. 

"  Muchacho  —  muchachol  "  she  cried,  clapping  her 
hands  as  she  released  her  hold  on  Don  Felipe's.  "  Car 
los,  the  Caballero's  horse !  "  she  continued,  addressing 
the  vaquero  that  appeared  in  the  doorway  of  the  Inn 
at  her  summons  and  who  advancing,  took  possession 
of  Don  Felipe's  horse  and  led  him  away  to  the  stables. 

"  Let  me  look  at  you,  Don  Felipe,"  she  continued, 
regarding  him  closely.  "  Why,  you  have  not  changed 
a  hair !  It  might  have  been  but  yesterday  that  you  left 
us." 

"  And  you,  Dona  Fernandez  are  still  the  charming, 
handsome  mistress  of  the  Posada  de  las  Estrellas  to 
whom  all  men  are  irresistibly  drawn." 

"  Flatterer ! "  retorted  Senora,  laughing  gayly  and 
120 


WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE 

blushing  like  a  girl  of  sixteen.  How  sweet  it  was  to 
hear  such  words  from  a  handsome  Caballero  like  Don 
Felipe!  It  reminded  her  of  the  old  days  when  all  men 
thought  her  beautiful  and  went  out  of  their  way  to  tell 
her  so. 

"  It  was  unkind  of  you  to  remain  away  so  long,  Don 
Felipe.  Your  friends  have  missed  you  sadly  and  have 
prayed  for  the  day  of  your  return." 

"  Friends  ?  "  echoed  Felipe  with  a  sneer. 

"  Aye,  friends.  You  will  find  that  you  have  more 
friends  now  than  when  you  left  us." 

"  I  can  scarcely  believe  it.  And  yet,"  he  added, 
"  I  wish  it  might  be  so." 

"  You  shall  learn  shortly  for  yourself,"  returned 
Senora. 

"  How  long,"  interrupted  Felipe,  eager  to  change 
the  drift  of  the  conversation,  "  have  the  American  ladies 
been  here?  " 

"Ah,  you  have  seen  them?" 

"  Yes,  they  were  just  going  out  for  a  walk  when  I 
arrived.  It  was  a  pleasant  surprise  to  see  them  here. 
They  are  friends  of  mine." 

"You  know  them?" 

"  Yes.     I  met  them  a  year  ago  in  Washington." 

"  Dios!  to  think  of  it !  "  she  exclaimed. 

"  But  what  are  they  doing  here  ?  "  he  asked. 

"Ah!  that  is  just  what  I  would  like  to  know  my 
self,"  replied  Senora.  "  Caramba!  but  they  are  grand 
ladies !  They  say,"  she  went  on,  "  that  they  are  travel 
ing  for  pleasure,  but  what  pleasure  can  such  delicate, 
refined  ladies  possibly  find  in  the  desert,  I  should  like 


122 

to  know?  Judging  from  their  talk  and  actions  they 
can  not  have  seen  very  much  of  the  world.  Dios!  you 
should  have  witnessed  the  scene  they  created  the  day 
they  arrived.  And  yet,"  she  continued,  "  I  like  them 
and  am  glad  they  are  here.  They  have  brought  new 
life  into  the  place.  God  knows  it  is  no  longer  what 
it  used  to  be  in  the  old  days  when  Don  Carlos,  my 
husband,  was  alive,"  she  added  with  a  sigh. 

Don  Felipe  smiled  at  the  Senora's  provincialism. 
What  a  great  world  lay  outside  that  of  her  own,  of 
which  she  was  entirely  ignorant. 

A  trip  to  the  City  of  Mexico  during  her  honeymoon 
was  the  only  journey  she  had  ever  taken  beyond  the 
confines  of  Chihuahua. 

"  And  then  there  is  Mrs.  Forest's  brother,  Col-on-el 
Van  Ash-ton,"  she  continued,  pronouncing  the  latter's 
name  slowly  and  with  difficulty. 

"  Holy  Maria !  but  he  has  caused  us  trouble !  Noth 
ing  seems  to  suit  him." 

"  Colonel  Van  Ashton  ?  "  repeated  Felipe.  "  Ah,  yes, 
I  remember  him." 

"  But  that  is  not  all,"  interrupted  Senora.  "  There 
is  also  Captain  Forest,  Mrs.  Forest's  son.  He  came 
here  before  the  others  and  seemed  very  much  surprised 
and  put  out  by  their  unexpected  appearance." 

"  Captain  Forest?  "  repeated  Don  Felipe  slowly,  as 
if  trying  to  recall  a  chance  meeting.  "  I  have  never 
met  him.  What  is  he  like?  " 

"  Ah,  he's  a  grand  Senor,"  answered  Senora  with 
enthusiasm.  "  A  Cdbdllero  every  inch,  and  rides  a 
horse  that's  the  devil  himself.  Why,  only  yesterday 


WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE  123 

the  brute  kicked  out  the  side  of  the  corral,  and  after 
chasing  the  men  off  the  place  who  had  been  teasing  him, 
calmly  walked  into  the  garden  and  rolled  in  my  choicest 
flower-bed." 

"  He  must  be  a  thoroughbred  at  any  rate,"  laughed 
Felipe. 

"Thoroughbred?  He's  the  devil,  I  say!  Captain 
Forest  and  his  man,  Jose,  are  the  only  ones  that  dare 
go  near  him."  Don  Felipe  drew  a  gold  cigarette-case 
thickly  studded  with  diamonds  and  rubies  from  the  inner 
pocket  of  his  jacket,  and  lighted  a  cigarette. 

"  As  I  was  saying,"  Sefiora  went  on,  "  Captain  Forest 
is  a  fine  gentleman.  He's  a  great  friend  of  Senor  Yank- 
ton,  and  — "  she  stopped  abruptly. 

"And  what?"  asked  Felipe  suspiciously,  closely 
scanning  her  face  as  he  tossed  away  the  burnt  end 
of  the  match. 

"  Oh,  nothing,"  answered  Senora  evasively.  "  Only 
much  has  transpired  during  your  absence,  Don  Felipe." 
She  hesitated  as  though  uncertain  how  to  proceed,  then 
said:  "I  might  speak  of  certain  things,  but  perhaps 
I  had  better  not.  They  would  not  interest  you,  any 
way." 

"  Ah !  "  he  said  at  length,  endeavoring  to  conceal 
the  emotion  her  words  aroused.  "I  —  I  think  I  under 
stand.  You  —  you  refer  to  her,  I  suppose?"  There 
was  a  slight  tremor  in  his  voice  and  his  hand  trembled 
as  he  raised  his  cigarette  to  his  lips  for  a  fresh  puff. 

"  Yes,"  she  answered  quietly.  "I  —  I  was  about  to 
say  that  she  appears  to  be  interested  in  this  Captain 
Forest.  But  of  course,  that's  nothing  to  you,"  she 


124 

added  hastily,  watching  him  narrowly  the  while.  Her 
words  acted  like  fire  to  tinder. 

"  Interested  in  him?  "  he  cried,  starting  violently  and 
letting  his  cigarette  fall  to  the  ground.  His  face  grew 
ashen  pale  and  his  right  hand  involuntarily  went  to 
the  knife  in  his  sash.  "  No,  no,  it  cannot  be !  "  he 
muttered  excitedly.  "  Are  you  sure  of  what  you  say, 
Dona  Fernandez?  Tell  me  that  it  is  not  true  —  that 
it  is  a  lie ! "  he  almost  hissed,  his  eyes  glowing  with 
the  fires  of  passion  and  jealousy. 

"  Why,  what  has  come  over  you,  Don  Felipe 
Ramirez?"  cried  Senora  in  alarm.  "  Surely  you  can 
not —  she  can  be  nothing  to  you  any  more?  " 

"  Nothing  to  me?  Why  do  you  suppose  I  am  here?  " 
he  answered. 

"  Madre  de  Dios!  "  muttered  Senora. 

"  Dona  Fernandez,"  he  began  after  a  pause,  his  voice 
trembling  in  spite  of  himself,  "  God  knows  I  have  tried 
to  forget  her,  but  I  —  I  cannot ! "  and  his  voice 
broke. 

"What?"  cried  Senora  excitedly.  "You  don't 
really  mean  to  say  that  you  still  —  love  her  ?  " 

"  I  do,"  answered  Felipe  fiercely,  driving  his  heel 
furiously  into  the  ground.  For  some  moments  neither 
spoke.  Then  a  flush  of  anger  mounted  to  Senora's  brow 
and  she  cried: 

"  Fie !  Don  Felipe !  Have  you  forgotten  your  self- 
respect?  The  handsomest,  richest  man  in  all  Chihuahua 
running  after  an  Indian  —  the  woman  who  treated  you 
so  shamefully  —  an  ingrate  who  is  unworthy  of  a  love 
like  yours?  If  I  could  have  had  my  way,  she  would 


WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE  125 

have  been  whipped  publicly!  What  would  Don  Juan, 
your  father,  peace  be  to  his  soul,  say  if  he  were  alive? 
Love  her ! "  she  cried  in  a  frenzy  of  hatred  and 
jealousy.  "  How  can  you  possibly  love  her,  Don  Felipe 
Ramirez?  " 

"  How  can  I  love  her? "  retorted  Felipe  fiercely. 
"Why  does  the  grass  grow?  Why  do  the  birds  sing? 
Why  do  the  streams  run  to  the  ocean?  Why  do  the 
flowers  turn  to  the  sun?  Tell  me  that,  Dona  Fernan 
dez,"  he  cried  in  agony  and  bitterness,  "  and  I  will 
tell  you  why  I  love  her  in  spite  of  myself,  in  spite  of 
what  she  did,  in  spite  of  every  effort  I  have  made  to 
resist  her  fascination !  God !  "  and  he  struck  his  breast 
with  his  clenched  hand,  "  I  wonder  I  did  not  kill  her 
then  and  there,  but  I  could  not,  I  could  not;  I  loved 
her  so !  " 

"  Dios,  but  this  is  strange !  "  gasped  Senora,  raising 
both  hands  for  an  instant  and  then  crossing  herself 
devoutly  as  if  to  avert  the  power  of  some  evil  —  the 
spell  which  seemed  to  cling  to  Don  Felipe  and  bind  him 
as  with  hoops  of  steel.  She  did  not  realize  that  Chi- 
quita  belonged  to  that  rare  type  of  beings  who  seem 
immortal;  that  it  was  impossible  to  imagine  her  other 
than  young,  that  the  years  could  work  no  change  within 
her,  and  although  Felipe  had  not  yet  seen  her,  his  soul 
must  flame  up  at  the  sight  of  her  as  of  yore. 

Felipe  was  silent,  his  eyes  cast  on  the  ground.  His 
face  wore  a  malignant  expression  of  pain  and  hatred, 
and  he  trembled  in  every  limb. 

The  revelation  of  his  anguish  startled  her.  She 
stepped  close  up  to  him  and  laying  her  hand  gently 


126  WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE 

on  his  shoulder,  said  in  a  voice  full  of  compassion,  al 
most  of  pity :  "  I  understand,  Don  Felipe !  You  still 
see  her  as  she  was  when  you  last  knew  her  —  it  is  but 
natural.  Of  course  you  could  not  know,  but  she  has 
changed  since  then.  In  the  opinion  of  every  one,  she 
has  fallen,  degraded  herself." 

"Degraded  herself?  What  do  you  mean?"  asked 
Felipe,  turning  his  searching  gaze  upon  her. 

"  Only  a  fortnight  ago,"  answered  Senora,  "  on  the 
great  day  of  the  Fiesta,  she  danced  publicly  in  Carlos 
Moreno's  theater." 

"  Chiquita  danced  in  Carlos  Moreno's  hall?  Impos 
sible  ! " 

"  Don  Felipe,"  replied  Senora  with  just  the  sugges 
tion  of  a  smile,  "  all  things  are  possible  with  a  woman." 

"  But  why  did  she  dance?  "  he  asked. 

"  I  don't  know ;  neither  does  any  one  else.  They  say 
she  received  three  thousand  pesos  in  gold." 

"  Three  thousand  pesos?  "  echoed  Felipe.  "  What 
did  she  do  with  them?  " 

"  Ah !  that's  the  mystery !  What  did  she  do  with 
them  ?  "  answered  Senora. 

"  It  was  not  so  much  her  dancing  that  scandalized 
the  community,  for  we  all  know  what  a  wonderful  dancer 
she  is.  Nobody  ever  danced  as  she  does,  and  we  are 
willing  to  give  her  credit  for  it,  but  what  did  she  do 
with  the  money?  That's  the  scandal  of  it !  I  have 
noticed  no  change  in  her  dress,"  she  continued,  "  nor 
is  it  known  that  she  has  spent  a  single  peso  as  yet." 

"  Strange,"  he  murmured.  "  I  cannot  understand 
it." 


WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE  127 

"  No  more  can  I  nor  any  one  else,"  answered  Senora. 
"  But  I  have  been  forgetting  my  duty ;  I  must  prepare 
a  room  for  you,  Don  Felipe.  In  the  meantime,"  she 
added,  ascending  the  veranda  and  pausing  for  an  in 
stant,  "  be  assured  of  the  hearty  welcome  of  your  friends 
when  they  learn  of  your  return." 

"  Chiquita  danced  in  public?  I  can't  understand 
it !  "  he  said  aloud  after  Senora  Fernandez  had  dis 
appeared  in  the  house.  "  And  she  interested  in  this 
Captain  Forest?  "  His  face  grew  livid  and  then  black 
with  hatred  as  a  fresh  wave  of  rage  and  jealousy  swept 
over  him. 

"  No,  no ;  it  cannot  be ! "  he  gasped,  his  left  hand 
resting  over  his  heart  as  though  in  pain.  For  some  time 
he  remained  motionless  as  a  statue,  lost  in  thought  with 
his  eyes  fixed  on  the  ground.  Suddenly  he  raised  his 
head  with  a  quick  jerk.  His  face  no  longer  wore  an 
expression  of  pain  and  anguish,  but  one  of  settled, 
calm  determination. 

"  I  have  come  just  in  time,"  he  said  quietly.  He 
smiled,  and  drawing  forth  his  cigarette-case  once  more, 
he  opened  it  and  Jit  a  fresh  cigarette. 


XII 

IRvONA  FERNANDEZ  could  not  sleep.  All  night 
-^— • *  long  she  tossed  on  her  bed,  repeating  her  conversa 
tion  with  Don  Felipe  and  revolving  what  course  to  pur 
sue.  She  instinctively  felt  that  a  great  tragedy  of 
some  kind  was  imminent.  Unless  some  plan  of  con 
certed  action  were  immediately  adopted,  nothing  could 
prevent  it. 

She  knew  her  people  too  well.  A  reckless,  hot- 
blooded  man  like  Don  Felipe  in  his  present  mood  could 
not  be  trusted  for  long,  but  must  sooner  or  later  pro 
voke  a  quarrel  with  Captain  Forest,  who  she  knew, 
would  be  equally  dangerous  if  aroused.  Since  her  con 
versation  with  Felipe  she  had  noted  the  attitude  of 
Blanch  toward  the  Captain  and  her  woman's  instinct 
had  half  guessed  the  truth.  But  beautiful  and  irre 
sistible  though  Blanch  appeared,  there  was  Chiquita, 
more  beautiful  and  attractive  than  when  Felipe  had  last 
seen  her,  and  also  quite  as  dangerous. 

She  knew  that  Felipe's  passion  was  hopeless  —  that 
Chiquita  would  not  hesitate  to  show  her  dislike  and  con 
tempt  for  him  anew  —  that  should  Captain  Forest  be 
attracted  to  her  also,  she  would  act  like  a  fire-brand 
between  the  two  men.  If  only  one  of  them  might 
be  persuaded  to  leave  the  place,  the  clash  which  must 
inevitably  occur,  might  be  averted  for  a  time  at  least, 

128 


WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE  129 

but  this  was  clearly  impossible.  There  was  only  one 
thing  to  be  done  for  the  present  —  advise  Chiquita 
of  Felipe's  return  and  warn  her  of  the  danger  that 
threatened  them  all  if  she  provoked  him  unnecessarily. 

Hopeless  though  this  plan  seemed,  Chiquita  might  for 
the  Captain's  sake,  if  she  really  cared  for  him,  act 
more  discreetly  than  was  her  wont.  But  what  could 
be  expected  from  a  woman  in  love?  Who  could  tell 
how  she  would  act?  Besides,  she  argued,  all  men  are 
fools.  They  seem  to  be  born  only  to  become  the  play 
things  of  women,  the  majority  of  whom  are  invariably 
deceived  by  them  in  the  end. 

How  she  hated  her!  To  think  of  Don  Felipe  run 
ning  after  her,  eating  out  his  heart,  throwing  away 
his  young  life  for  one  like  her!  A  love  like  his  go 
ing  begging!  Merciful  God!  was  there  no  justice  in 
this  world?  And  for  the  moment,  she  was  quite  car 
ried  away  by  a  paroxysm  of  fury. 

Ah,  if  only  she,  Doila  Fernandez,  were  but  ten  years 
younger!  But  the  chosen  birds  of  Venus,  the  white 
doves  of  matrimony,  were  not  destined  to  hover  over 
her  head  a  second  time.  Tears  of  longing  and  vexa 
tion  dimmed  her  eyes  as  she  thought  of  the  golden, 
halcyon  days  of  youth  that  would  never  return.  At 
any  rate,  Felipe  and  Chiquita  must  not  meet  until  after 
she  had  warned  the  latter.  Blanch  must  be  used  as 
a  foil  as  long  as  possible. 

And  so  it  happened  that,  when  breakfast  was  over, 
Senora  adroitly  arranged  that  Felipe  should  conduct 
the  two  girls  for  a  morning's  ramble  to  the  pretty  little 
canon  of  the  river  which  lay  but  a  mile  distant  from 


130  WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE 

the  town  where  the  foothills  began ;  a  plan  that  suited 
Blanch  perfectly.  She,  too,  had  been  doing  some  think 
ing  over  night  and  had  recognized  the  possibility  of 
using  Don  Felipe  as  a  foil  against  Jack ;  he  was  cer 
tainly  handsome  and  clever  enough  to  serve  the  pur 
pose  admirably. 

Captain  Forest  had  gone  for  a  ride  an  hour  before 
for  the  purpose  of  giving  his  horse  a  short  run  to  the 
foothills  and  back.  So,  when  Senora  had  seen  the 
others  safely  off,  she  slipped  quietly  away  in  the  direc 
tion  of  Padre  Antonio's  house. 

It  lacked  a  quarter  of  eleven  when  she  left  the  house. 
She  knew  that  Chiquita  would  have  long  since  returned 
from  the  market  and  would  be  at  home.  So  occupied 
was  she  with  her  thoughts  as  she  hurried  forward  in 
tent  upon  her  mission,  she  did  not  look  up  until  she 
turned  into  the  road  leading  directly  past  Padre  An 
tonio's  gate,  when  she  suddenly  stopped  short.  Be 
fore  her  she  beheld  Captain  Forest  standing  in  front 
of  the  gate  holding  his  horse,  and  Chiquita  handing  him 
a  red  rose.  Another  instant,  and  Chiquita  vanished 
through  the  gate  into  the  garden  and  Captain  Forest, 
remounting  his  horse,  came  riding  leisurely  down  the 
road  at  a  walk,  inhaling  the  rose  with  evident  pleasure. 
She  drew  back  into  the  shadow  of  the  old  wall  and 
pressed  close  into  the  thick  bushy  mass  of  white  clematis 
vine  which  hung  over  it  from  above  and  waited  until 
he  passed. 

It  is  the  unexpected  that  always  happens.  The 
meeting  between  Chiquita  and  the  Captain  was  purely 
accidental.  While  returning  from  his  ride,  he  had  been 


The    picture    which    she    presented    was    one    he    carried    with    him   for 
many  a  day." 

Page  131 


WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE  131 

attracted  by  the  beauty  and  luxuriance  of  Padre  An 
tonio's  garden  as  he  rode  by.  He  wheeled  his  horse 
about  and  drew  rein  before  the  open  iron  grating  of 
the  gate  in  order  to  obtain  a  better  view  of  it.  Its 
flowers  consisted  chiefly  of  roses  of  different  varieties 
and  colors.  The  air  was  spicy  with  their  perfume  and, 
as  he  inhaled  their  fragrance  in  deep  breaths,  his  at 
tention  was  presently  attracted  by  the  figure  of  Chiquita 
who  appeared  in  the  pathway  before  him,  pausing  be 
side  a  luxuriant  bush  of  blood-red  blossoms  and  ap 
parently  quite  unconscious  of  his  presence.  The  pic 
ture  which  she  presented  was  one  he  carried  with  him 
for  many  a  day  afterward. 

A  small  white  dove  strutted  and  cooed  on  the  ground 
before  her,  while  another  flew  down  from  the  house 
top  and  after  circling  above  her  head,  also  settled  down 
beside  its  mate  in  the  pathway. 

She  was  dressed  in  a  short  pale  green  skirt  and 
bodice,  the  latter  cut  low  at  the  neck  before  and  be 
hind.  The  sleeves  were  short,  reaching  to  the  elbow 
and  terminating  in  a  narrow  frill  of  deep  saffron, 
their  sides  open  and  interlaced  with  silvery  cords.  Two 
richly  embroidered  silken  shawls  of  a  pale  red  color  with 
long  fringe  and  worn  in  Spanish  style,  adorned  her 
dress.  The  one,  pinned  at  the  waist  at  the  back  and 
following  the  outline  of  the  bodice,  passed  up  over  her 
left  shoulder  and  down  in  front  to  her  breast  where 
it  was  fastened  with  a  golden  brooch,  the  end  falling  in 
a  graceful  length  of  fringe.  The  other,  also  fastened 
at  the  back  of  her  waist,  passed  around  her  right  hip 
and  diagonally  down  across  the  front  of  her  skirt. 


132  WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE 

Golden  poppies  adorned  the  heavy  masses  of  her  lus 
trous  black  hair,  worn  high  and  held  in  place  by  a 
silver  comb.  A  saffron  lace  mantilla  of  the  same  deep 
shade  as  that  of  the  frill  on  her  sleeves,  fell  in  grace 
ful  folds  from  the  comb  to  her  shoulders,  while  her 
feet  were  clothed  in  silk  stockings  of  the  same  shade 
and  soft  brown  beaded  slippers  of  undressed  leather. 

To  complete  this  costume  which  only  a  Gypsy  or  one 
of  Chiquita's  tawny  complexion  would  have  dared  essay 
to  wear,  a  small  pale  red  silken  fan  ornamented  with 
gold  and  silver  spangles,  hung  suspended  from  her  wrist 
by  a  satin  ribbon  of  deep  orange  which  flashed  in  the 
sunlight  like  a  splash  of  gold  on  a  humming-bird's 
throat. 

It  was  not  by  some  happy  chance  that  the  Captain 
found  her  arrayed  in  such  finery,  as  is  so  often  the  case 
with  heroines  of  romance,  but  the  result  of  much  pre 
meditation  and  studied  effect.  Ever  since  her  meeting 
with  Blanch  she  had  dressed  herself  daily  with  terrible 
deliberation  and  nicety  of  precision,  the  same  as  every 
woman  of  flesh  and  blood  would  have  done  under  the 
circumstances,  on  the  chance  of  Captain  Forest  find 
ing  her  at  home  when  he  came  to  pay  his  respects  to  the 
Padre  as  he  had  intimated  he  would  do. 

The  thought  of  the  innumerable  dresses  possessed 
by  her  rival,  and  the  scantiness  of  her  own  wardrobe, 
composed  though  it  was  of  the  richest  laces,  silks  and 
satins  in  the  style  of  a  past  era,  was  something  appall 
ing;  enough  to  turn  a  stouter  heart  than  hers.  And 
had  she  been  anything  else  than  an  Indian,  she  would 
have  sat  down  on  the  floor  of  her  room  in  the  midst 


WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE  133 

of  her  finery  and  wept  copious  and  bitter  tears  like 
the  daughters  of  Babylon  of  old.  The  thought  of  the 
old  dress  which  she  had  worn  on  the  day  of  their  meet 
ing  was  not  alone  mortifying  —  it  was  excruciating. 
One  of  those  things  which  we  hasten  to  forget. 

Dlos!  how  she  must  have  looked  to  him  in  the  regal 
presence  of  Blanch,  gowned  in  her  stylish  traveling  cos 
tume! 

Don  Felipe  Ramirez  would  have  kissed  the  dust  from 
off  the  hem  of  such  an  old  garment,  but  would  Cap 
tain  Forest  do  the  same?  She  could  not  afford  to 
take  any  more  risks  with  a  rival  like  Blanch  in  the 
field. 

There  is  no  knowing  how  long  Captain  Forest  would 
have  remained  a  silent  spectator  of  the  charming  pic 
ture  she  presented,  had  not  her  attention  been  attracted 
by  the  sound  of  Starlight's  hoofs  as  he  began  to  paw  the 
ground  impatiently.  She  raised  her  head  from  the 
bush  over  which  she  was  bending  and  turned  her  gaze 
in  the  direction  of  the  gate. 

"  Oh !  "  she  cried  with  a  little  start,  silently  regard 
ing  the  Captain  for  some  moments.  Then  a  smile 
slowly  wreathed  her  lips  and  she  broke  into  a  light 
laugh.  Her  right  hand  involuntarily  sought  her  fan 
which  slowly  opened  across  the  lower  half  of  her  face 
and  she  shot  a  glance  at  him  over  its  rim  with  an  ease 
and  grace  which  only  Spanish  women  have  ever  suc 
ceeded  in  mastering.  The  effect  of  this  deft  bit  of 
coquetry,  simple  and  natural  as  were  all  her  actions, 
was  not  lost  upon  the  Captain. 

"  I  don't  know  whether  I  love  you  or  not,"  it  said 


WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE 

plainly  as  words,  "  but  henceforth  you  shall  be  my 
slave." 

"  How  long  have  you  been  there  ? "  she  asked  at 
length,  slowly  lowering  her  fan. 

"  Only  an  instant,  Senorita,"  he  replied,  raising  his 
hat.  "  I  was  wondering,"  he  continued,  "  whether  it 
would  be  too  much  to  ask  you  for  one  of  those  roses? 
One  would  not  be  missed  among  so  many." 

"  Ah,  but  they  are  precious,  Senor  Capitan  —  these 
especially;  they  are  my  favorites,"  and  she  swept  her 
hand  caressingly  over  the  bush  beside  which  she  was 
standing. 

"  For  that  reason  I  shall  prize  it  all  the  more, 
Senorita." 

"  Ah !  you  men  have  a  way  of  using  flattery  to  women 
whenever  you  want  anything  of  them.  And  yet," 
she  continued  with  just  the  suggestion  of  a  frown,  "  a 
woman  would  be  hard  hearted  to  refuse  — "  Her  eyes 
dropped  for  an  instant,  then  looking  up  again,  she 
said  hesitatingly:  "I  wonder  if  I  can  trust  you?" 

"  Try  me,"  he  pleaded. 

"  I  know  it's  foolish,  but  rather  than  have  you  think 
me  less  generous  than  the  women  you  have  known,  I 
shall  give  you  one  little  one,  Captain  Forest,  that  is, 
on  condition  you  never  ask  me  for  another,"  and  break 
ing  off  one  of  the  largest  half-blown  blossoms,  she  held 
it  in  her  hand  as  though  loath  to  part  with  it. 

"  I  promise,"  said  the  Captain  solemnly,  dismount 
ing  and  holding  his  horse  by  the  rein.  "  I  dare  not 
leave  my  horse,  Senorita,"  he  added  in  a  tone  of  em 
barrassment,  "  he  is  unaccustomed  to  a  town  and  feels 


WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE  135 

strange,  and  should  he  take  it  into  his  head  to  bolt, 
he  might  do  the  first  person  he  met  an  injury." 

"Indeed?  I  have  often  thought  of  your  horse  and 
wondered  where  you  got  him.  But,"  she  continued  re 
luctantly,  "  since  you  cannot  come  to  me,  I  suppose 
I  must  come  to  you,"  and  passing  through  the  gate, 
she  stood  before  him,  rose  in  hand. 

"  A  truly  magnificent  animal,"  she  said,  running  her 
hand  gently  along  Starlight's  neck.  "  I've  been  ac 
customed  to  horses  from  childhood  and  can't  help  admir 
ing  a  good  one  when  I  see  it." 

Much  to  the  Captain's  surprise,  the  Chestnut  did  not 
resent  her  touch,  but  whinnied  softly  instead  and  laid 
his  nose  on  her  shoulder.  Any  one  else  but  Jose  and 
himself  he  would  have  seized  with  his  teeth.  Perhaps 
it  was  her  way  of  approaching  and  handling  him,  or 
was  it  the  subtle  influence  of  that  mysterious  kinship 
which  exists  between  the  wild  things  —  strange  and  in 
explicable  to  all  but  themselves? 

"  I  thought  I  possessed  the  only  pure  Arab  in 
Mexico,"  she  continued.  "  He's  a  small  black  horse 
with  a  white  star  in  his  forehead,  and  has  never  been 
beaten.  You  should  look  at  the  Raven  some  time  — 
he  would  interest  you,"  she  added. 

"  I  should  like  to.  Arabs  are  rare  on  this  side  of  the 
Atlantic.  Where  did  you  get  him?  " 

"  He  was  a  present  from  Count  Don  Louis  de 
Ortega,  of  the  City  of  Mexico." 

"  Count  Louis  de  Ortega?  " 

"  Yes.  He  is  the  most  charming  old  gentleman  I 
know.  He  is  Padre  Antonio's  great  friend." 


136  WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE 

"Ah!"  ejaculated  the  Captain  as  though  relieved. 

"  I  once  spent  a  summer  traveling  in  Europe  with  the 
Ortega  family.  But  here  is  your  rose,  Captain  Forest. 
I  almost  believe  you  forgot  it.  Horses  are  so  much 
more  interesting  than  flowers,"  and  handing  him  the 
rose,  she  was  back  again  in  the  garden  before  he  could 
thank  her. 

"  A  Dios,  Capltan  Forest,"  she  continued  with  the 
softest  accent  imaginable,  lingering  unconsciously  on  his 
name  as  she  paused  on  the  other  side  of  the  gate. 
Again  the  little  fan  opened,  and  looking  back  over  it 
with  a  bewitching  smile  and  arched  eyebrows  and  her 
head  held  coquettishly  on  one  side,  she  said  as  if  to 
herself :  "  I  wonder  how  long  he  will  keep  it  ?  " 

His  heart  gave  a  great  throb  as  he  gazed  upon  that 
subtle,  bewitching  vision  before  him.  "  Forever, 
Senorita !  "  he  was  about  to  reply,  but  she  was  gone. 

It  might  be  argued  that  a  woman  of  Chiquita's  metal 
would  not  have  shown  her  hand  thus  lightly.  Let 
his  infernal  beast  bolt  and  trample  the  whole  town  in 
the  dust  and  himself  in  the  bargain.  If  he  wanted 
the  rose,  let  him  come  and  get  it;  not  a  step  would  she 
move!  Possibly,  but  let  it  not  be  forgotten  that  she 
was  in  love  —  desperately  in  love ;  that  the  time  for  quib 
bling  had  passed,  that  another  woman  equally  fair  would 
have  unhesitatingly  waded  through  a  river  to  deliver 
that  rose  to  the  Captain  had  he  asked  for  it.  Destiny 
had  placed  Captain  Forest  in  the  saddle,  just  as  it 
had  decreed  that  Don  Felipe  Ramirez  should  pass  the 
remainder  of  his  days  pursuing  an  illusive  vision.  If 
nature  and  convention  now  swarmed  at  the  Captain's 


137 

saddle-bow,  surely  it  was  no  fault  of  his.  Had  he 
not  burnt  his  last  bridge,  snapped  his  fingers  in 
the  face  of  the  world,  and  turned  his  back  upon  it  and 
ridden  forth  in  search  of  the  lost  kingdom  of  Earth? 


XIII 

<  trr^HE  jade  —  coquetting  openly  on  the  high- 
•••  road !  "  cried  the  Senora  furiously,  stepping 
out  from  the  shadow  of  the  wall  after  the  Captain  had 
disappeared  down  the  road. 

"  Will  she  stop  at  nothing?  It's  true,  she  loves  him! 
What  would  Don  Felipe  do  had  he  witnessed  what  she 
had  just  seen?  "  and  she  shuddered  as  she  paused  breath 
lessly  before  the  high  iron  gate,  her  cheeks  aglow  and 
her  eyes  flashing  with  indignation.  Cautiously  push 
ing  open  the  gate  which  stood  ajar,  she  paused  for 
an  instant  on  the  inside,  casting  her  eyes  nervously 
about  her  in  search  of  Chiquita,  but  seeing  no  one,  she 
advanced  slowly  along  the  walk  leading  in  the  direc 
tion  of  the  house.  She  had  not  far  to  go  before 
she  came  upon  the  object  of  her  quest,  seated  on  a 
rough  stone  bench  in  the  shade  of  a  thick  cluster  of 
tamarisk  bushes  which  grew  close  to  the  wall. 

The  surprise  Chiquita  felt  on  seeing  the  Senora 
standing  before  her  so  unexpectedly,  caused  her  to  let 
fall  the  book  which  she  was  vainly  endeavoring  to 
read  —  an  action  which  the  Senora  regarded  as  an  ad 
mission  of  her  guilt;  and  she  exulted  in  her  evident  em 
barrassment. 

The  episode  of  the  rose  had  caused  her  to  quite 
forget  her  mission  for  the  moment.  From  her  general 

138 


WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE  139 

air  of  excitement,  flushed  face  and  flashing  eyes,  Chi- 
quita  rightly  conjectured  that  something  unusual  had 
happened  and  that  an  outburst  of  some  sort  or  other 
was  imminent.  It  came  like  an  explosion. 

"  Holy  Virgin  !  "  she  cried,  eyeing  Chiquita  critically. 
"  What  is  the  meaning  of  this ;  dressed  in  your  very 
best?  Is  this  the  Sabbath,  or  one  of  the  blessed  Saints' 
days,  or  perhaps  a  Palm-Sunday  that  you  should  array 
yourself  thus?  Mother  of  God!  when  has  it  become 
the  fashion  for  young  ladies  to  disport  themselves  in 
their  best  clothes  on  common,  ordinary  week  days? 
Why,  'tis  not  even  a  Fish-Friday  !  Merciful  Heaven  !  to 
what  are  we  coming? "  she  gasped  between  breaths, 
clasping  her  hands  and  glancing  heavenward.  "  Do 
such  dresses  grow  upon  bushes  that  they  are  so  easily 
obtained?  Doubtless,"  she  concluded  with  withering 
sarcasm,  "  when  they  are  worn  threadbare  as  they  soon 
will  be  owing  to  such  constant  usage,  you  will  purchase 
others  with  those  golden  pesos  which  you  earned  so 
recently." 

Chiquita,  accustomed  to  the  Senora's  outbursts,  did 
not  deign  an  immediate  reply,  but  sat  quietly  fanning 
herself,  a  faint  smile  wreathing  her  lips ;  she  was  thor 
oughly  enjoying  the  Senora's  discomfort.  What 
would  not  the  latter  give  to  know  something  concerning 
those  pesos?  Chiquita's  composure  under  the  fire  of 
her  words  only  tended  to  increase  her  irritation. 

**  Oh,  I  know  why  you  have  thus  suddenly  turned 
the  peacock !  You  do  not  deceive  me !  You  have  ar 
rayed  yourself  thus  for  the  grand  Senor  > —  Capitan 
Forest," 


140 

"Bah!"  ejaculated  Chiquita  composedly,  as  though 
nothing  unusual  were  taking  place.  "  Is  that  all  you 
have  to  say  Dona  Fernandez?" 

"All!  Is  that  not  enough?  Holy  God!"  she  cried 
with  increasing  vexation.  "  You  are  in  love  —  in  love, 
I  say !  "  A  ripple  of  laughter  bubbled  over  the  two 
rosy  petals  of  Chiquita's  lips,  revealing  the  pearly 
whiteness  of  her  teeth.  Now  that  she  realized  the  real 
cause  of  the  Senora's  anger,  it  was  impossible  to  become 
angry  herself.  The  Senora,  however,  was  by  no  means 
abashed  by  Chiquita's  indifference,  and  vigorously  re 
newed  the  attack. 

"  So  our  little  ring-dove  is  in  love,  is  she?  "  she  con 
tinued  mockingly,  strutting  back  and  forth  before  her. 
"  You  think  Capitan  Forest  will  notice  you  in  that 
finery  —  that  he  will  fall  in  love  with  you  and  will 
marry  you,  and  that  you  will  become  a  grand  lady 
like  the  Senorita  Lennox  and  ride  in  a  fine  carriage 
for  the  rest  of  your  days.  Mercedes  Dios!  and  all  be 
cause  you  have  succeeded  in  turning  the  heads  of  a 
few  country  bumpkins  that  hang  about  the  place  casting 
sheep's-eyes  at  you.  Ha,  ha,  ha !  "  she  laughed  deri 
sively.  "  Believe  me,  when  Capitan  Forest  makes  up 
his  mind  to  marry,  he  will  not  stoop  so  low  to  pick 
up  so  little." 

"  Dona  Fernandez !  "  said  Chiquita  sharply  rising 
from  the  bench  with  an  ominous  look  in  her  eyes. 

"  Foolish  child,"  Senora  went  on  without  heeding 
her,  "  to  imagine  that  some  day  your  hands  will  be 
white  like  a  lady's !  I  suppose  you  have  nothing 


WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE  141 

further  to  do  to-day  but  to  pick  flowers?"  she  added, 
pausing  for  breath. 

"  I  have  never  worried  about  my  color,  Dona  Fernan 
dez,"  replied  Chiquita  indignantly.  "  Indeed,  I  some 
times  think  it  holds  its  own  better  than  that  of  some 
persons  I  might  mention." 

"  Holy  Mother !  how  your  tongue  runs  on !  Am  I 
not  to  be  allowed  to  say  anything?  Oh,  you  do  not 
deceive  me!  I  saw  you  give  him  the  rose  as  I  came 
here.  If  he's  sensible,  he'll  throw  it  away." 

Chiquita  laughed  derisively.  "  Perhaps  it  is  well  for 
the  world  that  all  people  are  not  so  sensible  as  you  are, 
Dona  Fernandez,"  and  her  fan  closed  with  a  sudden 
snap.  "  So  this  is  the  advice  you  came  to  give  me, 
Dona  Fernandez?  How  very  considerate  of  you!" 

Her  words  recalled  the  Senora  to  the  purpose  of  her 
coming.  For  some  time  she  paced  up  and  down  before 
Chiquita  without  replying.  Then  stopping  and  facing 
her,  and  watching  closely  for  the  effect  her  words 
would  have  upon  her,  she  said :  "  I  came  to  tell  you 
—  that  Don  Felipe  Ramirez  has  returned." 

Chiquita  started.     "Don  Felipe  here?" 

"  Aye.  He's  stopping  at  my  house,  and  I  came  to 
warn  3Tou  that  perhaps  it  would  be  well  to  be  cautious 
and  exercise  a  little  more  self-control  than  is  your  wont 
when  in  his  and  Capitan  Forest's  presence." 

The  Senora  was  satisfied  with  her  morning's  work; 
her  words  had  had  their  effect.  Besides,  had  she  not 
had  her  say  —  unburdened  her  soul  of  many  things 
which  she  had  long  been  dying  to  give  utterance  to? 
All  things  considered  she  had  scored. 


WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE 

"  A  Dios,  Senorita,"  she  added  sarcastically,  her  black 
eyes  gleaming  with  malicious  satisfaction  as  with  mock 
courtesy  she  bowed  and  turned,  leaving  Chiquita  silent 
and  motionless,  her  eyes  cast  on  the  ground  and  lost 
in  thought. 


XIV 

FELIPE  here?  The  coward,  the  cur! 
How  dare  he  return?  "  she  cried  with  a  sudden 
outburst,  her  words  ringing  with  indignation  and  re 
sentment.  She  impatiently  tapped  the  palm  of  her 
hand  with  her  fan  as  she  began  to  realize  what  his  re 
turn  might  mean  to  her. 

She  knew  that  Senora  had  come  to  warn  her  not 
on  her  own  account,  but  solely  on  Don  Felipe's.  Know 
ing  as  she  did  the  reckless  character  of  the  man,  she 
thoroughly  realized  the  danger,  and  knew  that  she 
must  be  on  her  guard,  not  only  for  her  own  sake,  but 
for  Captain  Forest's  as  well.  Like  the  bird  of  ill  omen 
that  he  was,  his  presence  boded  no  good  to  her.  Already 
she  felt  his  baleful  shadow  fall  across  her  path. 

The  unusual  attention  which  Chiquita  had  begun  to 
pay  to  her  personal  appearance  did  not  escape  the  ob 
servant  eye  of  Padre  Antonio.  Knowing  the  nature  of 
woman  as  few  men  did,  he  was  wise  enough  not  to  ques 
tion  her,  experience  having  taught  him  that  the  ma 
jority  of  women  can  only  keep  a  secret  for  a  certain 
length  of  time.  He  smiled  and  admired,  or  twitted 
her  with  the  simple  remark :  "  For  whom  are  we  dress 
ing  this  morning,  Chiquita  mia?  "  But  she  only 


144  WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE 

laughed  in  reply,  or  shaking  her  finger  at  him  with  a 
mysterious  air,  would  say :  "  What  woman  would  not 
dress  for  Padre  Antonio?  "  But  Padre  Antonio  was  not 
so  innocent  as  he  tried  to  appear.  Instinct,  reenforced 
by  long  experience,  told  him  that  these  were  the  first 
real  symptoms  of  love  which  his  wild  little  Indian  girl, 
as  he  chose  to  call  her,  had  shown. 

He  had  always  suspected  that  she  never  really  cared 
for  Don  Felipe,  and  had  done  his  best  to  break  off  the 
engagement  before  the  catastrophe  had  overtaken  the 
latter;  but  this  was  different.  That  of  which  he  was 
loath  to  think,  yet  which  he  knew  must  inevitably 
happen,  had  come  to  pass. 

His  knowledge  of  human  nature  told  him  that  she  had 
at  last  met  the  man  worthy  of  her  love,  but,  he  asked 
himself,  would  Captain  Forest,  of  a  different  race  and 
reared  under  totally  different  conditions,  reciprocate 
that  love?  He  could  not  endure  the  thought  that  his 
little  girl  might  be  made  unhappy  should  the  Captain 
fail  to  respond  to  her  love. 

He,  too,  had  seen  Chiquita  give  him  the  rose  from  his 
study  window  which  overlooked  the  garden.  So,  when 
the  sermon  upon  which  he  was  engaged  was  completed, 
he  quietly  descended  to  the  garden  with  the  intention  of 
administering  to  her  a  gentle  admonition  as  well  as  giv 
ing  her  a  little  wholesome  advice.  Chiquita,  hearing 
the  sound  of  his  measured  tread  on  the  gravel  as  he  ap 
proached  along  the  pathway,  reseated  herself  on  the 
bench  and  began  to  fan  herself  unconcernedly. 

What  a  picture  she  made  against  the  pale  plumy 
branches  of  the  tamarisk,  thought  Padre  Antonio. 


WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE  145 

"  I  thought  I  heard  voices,"  he  said,  seating  himself 
beside  her.  "  Has  any  one  been  here?  " 

"Dona  Fernandez  has  just  gone,"  replied  Chiquita 
absently.  "  She  has  been  giving  me  some  of  her  ad 
vice." 

"Advice?"  echoed  Padre  Antonio,  realizing  the  mo 
ment  of  his  arrival  to  be  most  opportune.  "  That's 
just  what  I  have  come  to  give  you,  my  child  —  advice !  " 

"What!  You,  too,  Padre?"  she  exclaimed  petu 
lantly,  looking  at  him  inquiringly.  **  Dios!  what  have 
I  done  that  everybody  comes  to  give  me  advice  when 
I  have  so  many  other  things  to  think  of?  " 

"  Chiquita,"  slowly  began  Padre  Antonio,  laying  his 
hand  gently  on  her  own,  "  I  have  always  known  you 
to  be  wiser  than  most  women,  the  result  no  doubt,  of 
your  early  life  and  training  in  the  wilds  where  people 
must  live  by  their  wits  for  self-preservation  if  for 
nothing  else."  He  paused  that  he  might  the  better 
collect  his  thoughts.  She  guessed  what  was  coming  and 
began  toying  with  her  fan,  an  arch  smile  playing  about 
her  delicate,  sensitive  mouth  as  she  regarded  him  out 
of  the  corners  of  her  large  dark  eyes. 

"  Chiquita,"  he  continued,  "  I  do  not  like  your  ex 
travagance.  Have  a  care,  child,  lest  you  become  ad 
dicted  to  vanity." 

"  Again,  just  what  the  Senora  said!  Am  I  so  vain 
as  all  that,  Padre  mlo,  that  you  should  be  obliged  to 
remind  me  of  it?  " 

"  Then  why  this  continual  display? "  he  asked 
pointedly.  "  You  never  used  to  show  such  considera 
tion  for  your  admirers."  She  felt  that  it  would  be 


146  WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE 

not  only  foolish,  but  worse  than  useless  to  attempt 
to  fence  about  the  truth  with  him. 

"  Ah,  Padre  mio"  she  sighed  softly,  blushing  and 
laying  her  hand  lightly  on  his  shoulder  and  looking 
up  into  his  face  with  deep  lustrous  eyes  that  softened 
with  her  words,  "  you  —  you  forget  —  that  I  have 
never  been  in  love  before." 

"  In  love !  "  echoed  Padre  Antonio  in  turn.  "  Ah ! 
I  knew  it  was  that,"  and  into  his  eyes  there  came  an 
expression  of  tenderness  and  a  far-away  look  as  though 
the  word  recalled  memories  of  other  days.  Memories 
which  music  or  the  glories  of  the  sunset,  or  the  cooing 
of  the  wood-dove  at  eventide  might  awaken  within  the 
soul.  The  sunlight  played  along  the  path  at  their  feet. 
The  breeze  wafted  the  fragrance  of  the  roses  about 
them  and  a  linnet,  perched  on  the  swaying  branch  of 
a  tree  overhead,  gave  voice  to  his  song,  singing  of  the 
joy  of  life.  Again  he  sighed,  and  Chiquita  looking  up 
quickly,  saw  in  his  eyes  that  which  she  had  never  sus 
pected. 

"  Padre  mio,"  she  said  at  length,  lowering  her  eyes 
and  slowly  opening  and  shutting  her  fan,  "  have  — 
have  you  ever  been  in  love?  " 

"  My  child !  "  he  cried  with  a  start,  suddenly  recol 
lecting  where  he  was.  "  You  forget  what  I  am !  What 
are  you  thinking  of?  " 

"  Oh,  nothing,  nothing ! "  she  returned  quietly. 
"  Only  it's  so  —  so  sweet  to  be  in  love,  Padre  mio.  And 
yet  so  — " 

"  So  what,  my  child?  "  he  interrupted  hurriedly,  as 


WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE  147 

if  to  get  through  with  the  subject  as  quickly  as  pos 
sible. 

"  So  terrible,"  she  answered. 

"So  terrible?" 

"  Yes,  terrible,  Padre  TWO,  for  I  never  knew  before 
how  ugly  I  am." 

"  My  poor  child,  you  have  quite  lost  your  head !  " 
he  answered  sympathetically. 

"  Ah,  no,"  she  said  rising  and  facing  him,  "  you  do 
not  understand;  I  have  a  most  dangerous  rival.  To 
win  the  Senor  I  am  compelled  to  use  every  means  and 
strategy  within  my  power.  Can  you  not  see? "  she 
continued  passionately ;  "  she  has  everything ;  I  have 
nothing.  She  is  not  only  beautiful,  but  rich,  and 
Blessed  Virgin,  what  dresses  she  has,  and  jewels  enough 
to  cover  an  altar-cloth !  " 

"My  child!"  he  cried.  "You  are  merely  jealous 
of  the  Senorita's  beauty.  For  shame,  that  you  should 
set  such  store  upon  worldly  things !  " 

"  Padre  mio,  you  would  not  have  your  little  Chiquita 
unhappy,  would  you?  "  she  went  on  without  heeding 
his  words,  a  beseeching  tone  in  her  voice.  "  Should  I 
fail  to  win  Captain  Forest's  love,  my  heart  will  break !  " 
She  stood  with  downcast  eyes  before  him,  an  expression 
of  pain  on  her  face. 

"  Ah,  yes,  my  child,  I  understand,"  he  answered  com 
passionately,  also  rising  from  the  bench.  "  Your 
temptation  is  great.  Beware  of  pride  and  the  vanities 
of  this  world,  for  he  that  exalteth  himself  shall  be 
humbled. 


148  WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE 

"  Chiquita,"  he  continued  earnestly,  "  my  greatest 
care  in  bringing  you  up  has  ever  been  to  keep  you  the 
pure  and  simple  being  that  you  were  when  you  came  to 
me.  Do  not  forget  —  God  demandeth  that  the  souls 
which  he  gave  into  our  keeping  should  be  returned  unto 
him  again  in  the  same  pure  unblemished  state  that  we 
received  them.  Therefore,  take  heed,  my  child,  for 
although  God  has  endowed  you  with  great  beauty  of 
both  mind  and  body,  do  not  foolishly  imagine  that, 
by  arraying  yourself  in  the  vanities  of  this  world,  you 
can  add  an  atom  to  the  natural  beauty  He  has  bestowed 
upon  you  already.  Be  but  pleasing  in  God's  sight  and 
it  must  follow  that  you  will  please  all  men  as  well." 

"  Oh !  you  really  do  think  me  beautiful,  Padre  ?  " 
she  cried,  a  radiant  look  on  her  face. 

"  My  child,  my  child,  you  do  not  listen  to  what  I 
have  to  say !  "  he  groaned  despairingly. 

"  Oh,  yes,  I  do,  Padre  miol  But  you  forget  that, 
when  God  endowed  woman  with  a  soul,  he  gave  her  a 
heart  as  well.  Willingly  we  render  our  souls  unto  God, 
but  our  hearts  belong  to  men."  The  logic  of  her  argu 
ment  was  too  much  for  Padre  Antonio,  and  he  laughed 
as  she  had  never  seen  him  laugh  before. 

"  Verily,"  he  said  at  length,  wiping  the  tears  from 
his  eyes  and  reseating  himself  on  the  bench,  "  the  spirit 
and  flesh  must  ever  contend  for  the  mastery  of  the 
soul  on  earth ;  it  is  our  fate  —  the  good  Lord  intended 
that  it  should  be  so." 

"  Ah,  yes,"  she  returned.  "  It's  not  always  the  good 
that  seems  to  please  us  most  in  this  world." 

"Aye,  verily!"  he  rejoined,  relapsing  into  silence. 


WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE  149 

Again  the  linnet  gave  voice  to  his  song,  and  the  cooling 
breeze  sighed  among  the  tamarisk  plumes  that  waved 
about  their  heads. 

"  Do  you  remember  when  you  first  came  to  me,  Chi- 
quita  mia?  "  he  asked  at  last. 

"  That  was  ten  years  ago,  Padre." 

"  I  then  thought,"  he  went  on,  "  that  the  good  Lord 
had  sent  you  to  me  to  make  a  little  angel  out  of  you, 
but  — " 

"  Ah,  Padre  TRZ'O,"  she  interrupted,  "  it's  too  bad ! 
I'm  afraid  I'm  still  the  little  devil  that  I  was !  "  and 
laughing,  she  rose  from  her  seat  and  passing  around 
to  his  end  of  the  bench,  stood  beside  him  and  began 
to  pull  the  leaves  from  a  rose-bush. 

"  Padre  mio,"  she  said  softly,  looking  down  at  him 
with  mischievous  lights  dancing  in  her  eyes,  "  you  don't 
really  regret  that  I  have  remained  what  I  am,  do  you  ?  " 

"  Oh,  I  didn't  mean  to  infer  that,  my  child ! "  he 
answered  with  a  note  of  reproach  in  his  voice,  looking 
up  into  her  shadowy,  downcast  face.  She  gave  a  little 
laugh,  and  tapping  him  gently  on  one  shoulder  with 
her  fan,  said :  "  Do  you  know  what  you  are,  Padre 
mio?  " 

"What,  my  child?"  he  asked  innocently,  his  face 
brightening  at  the  question. 

"  You're  the  dearest  old  goose  that  ever  lived !  "  and 
bending  over  him,  she  kissed  him  lightly  on  the  crown 
of  his  head  before  he  could  prevent  it. 

"  Chiquita,  my  child  —  you're  too  impulsive !  Have 
I  not  repeatedly  forbade  you  — "  but  the  sound  of  her 
laughter  and  retreating  footsteps  on  the  pathway  lead- 


150  WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE 

ing  to  the  house  was  the  only  response  his  words  in 
voked.  "  Dios!  "  he  exclaimed,  recovering  his  breath. 
"  I  sometimes  think  that  God  created  man,  but  woman 
—  the  devil !  They  never  listen  to  anything  one  has  to 
tell  them !  " 

Chiquita  went  quietly  to  her  room,  walked  straight 
to  her  bureau  and  opening  the  lower  drawer,  took  out 
a  small  pistol  which  lay  concealed  beneath  a  chemise 
in  one  corner.  Examining  it  carefully  with  the  prac 
ticed  eye  and  hand  of  one  who  has  been  accustomed 
to  the  use  of  firearms  all  her  life,  she  loaded  it  and 
then  placed  it  inside  her  breast.  She  knew  Don  Felipe 
as  no  one  else  did,  and  thoroughly  realized  the  danger 
that  threatened  her.  From  that  hour,  waking  or  sleep 
ing,  the  weapon  must  never  leave  her. 


XV 

WHO  was  Richard  Yankton  ?  Many  had  asked  that 
question,  foremost  of  whom  was  Dick  himself; 
but  years  of  unremitting  search  had  failed  to  reveal 
his  origin. 

In  the  spring  of  1870  Colonel  Yankton,  who  with  his 
regiment  of  cavalry  was  stationed  in  Arizona,  came 
one  day  upon  the  smoldering  remains  of  an  immigrant 
train  —  the  work  of  the  Apache  Indians. 

The  scalped  and  mutilated  remains  of  men,  women 
and  children  lay  scattered  over  the  plain  where  they  had 
fallen.  It  was  a  melancholy  sight;  one  with  which  the 
Colonel  had  long  become  familiar  during  years  of  cam 
paigning  against  the  Red  man.  His  scouts  had  picked 
up  the  trail  and  just  as  he  was  about  to  start  in  pur 
suit  of  the  depredators,  he  fancied  he  heard  a  cry, 
causing  him  to  pause  and  listen. 

Presently  the  cry  was  repeated,  and  riding  in  the 
direction  whence  the  sound  proceeded,  he  came  upon  a 
little  child  of  about  two  and  a  half  years  of  age  sitting 
on  the  ground  among  the  sage-brush;  the  sole  survivor 
of  the  disaster.  It  was  a  pretty,  rosy-cheeked,  dark- 
eyed  baby  —  a  boy.  He  was  frightened  at  being  left 
alone  so  long  and  was  crying  bitterly.  But  when  he 
saw  the  Colonel  looking  down  at  him  from  the  back  of  his 
horse,  the  little  fellow  brightened  up.  He  forgot  his 

151 


152  WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE 

troubles,  and  ceasing  to  cry,  began  to  laugh  and  stretch 
out  his  tiny  hands,  and  in  his  incoherent  baby  way, 
began  to  babble. 

"  Horsie,  horsie,  widie !  "  he  cried,  in  the  most  be 
seeching,  irresistible  manner,  just  as  he  must  have  been 
accustomed  to  ask  the  men  of  the  camp  for  a  ride 
whenever  they  appeared  with  a  horse.  In  an  instant 
the  Colonel  was  on  the  ground  and  had  the  little  fellow 
in  his  arms.  As  no  clew  to  the  child's  parents  or  rel 
atives  was  ever  found,  the  Colonel  adopted  him,  giv 
ing  him  his  own  name. 

Dick  received  an  excellent  schooling  up  to  his  six 
teenth  year  and  probably  would  have  entered  West 
Point  had  not  his  benefactor  suddenly  died.  Strange 
to  say,  the  life  of  a  soldier  with  which  he  had  become 
familiar  during  the  years  spent  at  the  different  posts 
assigned  to  the  Colonel,  did  not  appeal  to  him.  The 
restraint  and  routine  of  the  life  appeared  irksome,  and 
a  year  later  the  then  great  undeveloped  West  numbered 
him  among  her  sons. 

Indeed,  as  subsequent  events  proved,  it  was  fortunate 
that  he  had  renounced  the  life  of  a  soldier.  The  suc 
cess  which  later  attended  his  efforts  in  the  search  for 
wealth  far  overshadowed  that  which  he  probably  would 
have  attained  in  the  army,  especially  as  his  heart  was 
not  in  the  life. 

Dick  was  a  born  miner  and  prospector,  and  passed 
successively  through  New  Mexico,  Arizona  and  Cali 
fornia  in  his  search  for  the  precious  metals,  finally  drift 
ing  into  old  Mexico  where  he  met  with  his  first  important 
success. 


153 

It  seemed  as  though  he  were  directed  by  an  invis 
ible  power.  For  weeks  and  months  at  a  time  he  would 
idle  —  read  and  smoke  and  ride  or  travel.  Then  sud 
denly  the  spirit  would  move  him,  and  without  saying 
a  word  to  any  one,  he  would  quietly  slip  away  into 
the  mountains  by  himself  in  whichever  direction  he 
seemed  most  impelled  to  go.  Where  other  men  paused 
and  lingered  in  the  hope  of  finding  gold,  he  passed  on 
and  discovered  the  metal  where  others  least  expected  to 
find  it. 

Perhaps  one  of  the  chief  reasons  for  his  success 
lay  in  the  fact  that  he  did  not  assert  his  own  will 
by  planning  a  systematic  search  for  the  metal,  but  al 
lowed  himself  to  be  drawn  by  that  mysterious,  attrac 
tive  affinity  that  existed  between  him  and  the  precious 
metals.  Dick  became  aware  of  the  existence  of  this 
strange  affinity  early  in  his  career  and  acted  upon  it. 
Already  at  the  age  of  thirty  he  possessed  two  of  the 
greatest  gold  and  silver  mines  in  the  world  and  began 
to  find  it  difficult  to  know  what  to  do  with  his  income. 

The  fact  that  he  cared  nothing  for  money  beyond  the 
simple  comforts  of  life  which  it  afforded,  was  perhaps 
another  inscrutable  reason  why  he  was  permitted  during 
the  course  of  the  next  eight  years  to  add  two  more  rich 
mines  to  his  possessions. 

At  thirty-eight  he  owned  four  mines,  the  possession 
of  any  one  of  which  would  have  caused  the  average 
man  to  see  visions.  For  example,  Dick  would  have 
regarded  Colonel  Van  Ashton's  fortune,  handsome 
though  it  was,  as  mere  loose  change  in  his  pocket. 

But  this  modern  young  Croesus  was  not  unworthy 


154  WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE 

of  the  fortune  that  had  been  showered  upon  him  so 
bountifully  as  the  majority  of  men  who  acquire  great 
wealth  invariably  become.  He  not  only  constantly 
strove  to  improve  his  mind,  but  maintained  a  pension- 
roll  and  list  of  public  charities  and  beneficiaries  that 
would  have  done  credit  to  a  small  European  Principal 
ity.  In  short,  he  thoroughly  realized  what  the  respon 
sibility  of  great  wealth  entailed. 

True  to  his  supersensitive  nature  and  fastidious  taste, 
he  always  dressed  in  the  height  of  fashion.  This  was 
the  only  extravagance  he  allowed  himself  which,  con 
sidering  his  fortune,  was  reasonable  enough. 

Experience  had  taught  him  that  the  majority  of  men 
and  women  were  fakirs  pure  and  simple,  whose  chief 
motives  were  prompted  solely  by  self-interest ;  and  any 
suggestion  to  reform  the  world  he  invariably  greeted 
with  laughter.  In  fact,  the  world  in  his  opinion,  was 
not  worth  reforming;  yet,  in  spite  of  this  melancholy 
truth,  he  had  remained  human  to  the  core,  and  took 
a  live  interest  in  that  world  of  men  which  he  knew  to 
be  nothing  more  nor  less  than  a  great  gamble.  And 
therein  lay  the  chief  distinction  between  him  and  Cap 
tain  Forest,  for  they  were  otherwise  strangely  alike. 
Dick  was  still  more  or  less  interested  in  molding  the 
clay  —  the  Captain  had  done  with  it.  Possibly  be 
cause  the  latter  had  fallen  heir  to  that  which  Dick 
had  acquired  through  effort  and,  therefore,  set  less  store 
upon  it. 

There  were  few  countries  which  he  had  not  visited. 
After  making  his  first  rich  strike,  he  attempted  to  settle 
in  New  York,  but  was  unable  to  do  so.  To  use  his  own 


WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE  155 

words,  "  he  was  only  able  to  sit  down,  but  there  wasn't 
room  enough  for  him  to  stretch  his  arms  and  legs." 

During  his  travels  he  had  collected  numerous  works 
of  art ;  tapestries,  paintings,  marbles  and  bronzes  by 
the  best  modern  masters,  which  he  placed  in  a  beau 
tiful  Spanish  hacienda  especially  designed  by  one  of 
the  foremost  architects  of  the  day.  The  house  occupied 
the  site  of  an  old  Spanish  rancho  situated  in  a  beau 
tiful  valley  about  ten  miles  from  Santa  Fe  and  was 
generally  conceded  to  be  the  most  attractive  estate  in 
Chihuahua,  though  not  the  largest  and  most  valuable; 
Don  Felipe  Ramirez  possessed  that.  Both  house  and 
garden  were  a  living  monument  to  Dick's  natural  refine 
ment  and  good  taste.  There  were  no  jarring  notes  or 
lavish,  tawdry  display,  the  pitfalls  into  which  the  par- 
venue  and  petit  bourgeois  invariably  fall.  This  was 
his  only  hobby,  and  just  why  he  indulged  it,  he  him 
self  would  have  found  it  difficult  to  answer,  for  in 
reality,  he  cared  but  little  for  it. 

He  regarded  it  chiefly  as  a  precaution  against  old  age. 
He  would  continue  to  improve  and  beautify  the  place 
until  the  day  arrived  when  he  would  retire  from  the 
world  to  pass  the  few  remaining  years  of  life  amid 
the  quiet  and  seclusion  which  the  country  afforded. 
And  he  often  pictured  himself  when  alone  and  musing 
over  his  cigar,  as  a  lonely,  white-haired  patriarch,  with 
out  offspring  to  perpetuate  his  name,  seated  in  the 
center  of  his  patio,  smiling  benignly  upon  the  frolic 
some  little  brown  children  of  his  Indian  retainers  as 
they  laughed  and  disported  themselves  about  him. 

"  Ah !  "  cries  the  world.     "  Mr.  Yankton  has  a  his- 


156  WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE 

tory ! "  Of  course.  What  man  or  woman  has  not, 
even  though  they  dare  not  admit  it?  Had  he  loved 
too  much  or  too  little?  There  were  even  some  who 
attributed  that  exquisite  vein  of  melancholy  in  his  na 
ture  to  the  shadow  of  a  married  woman.  Was  he 
haunted  by  the  fear  that  some  fair,  false  one  might 
marry  him  for  his  fortune,  not  for  himself?  Or,  was 
his  aversion  to  marriage  due  solely  to  the  fact  that  the 
right  woman  had  not  yet  arrived? 

These  and  many  other  questions  had  been  asked  and 
thoroughly  discussed  by  the  matrons  and  daughters  of 
Santa  Fe,  especially  by  the  latter,  to  all  of  whom  he 
had  made  love  and  sent  flowers  and  serenaded  in  turn 
until,  out  of  sheer  desperation,  they  called  alternately 
upon  God  and  the  devil  to  keep  or  punish  this  gay 
Lothario  who  loved  all  and  yet  none,  and  who  gave  such 
exquisite  -fiestas  in  his  beautiful  hacienda. 

Now  it  so  chanced  that,  at  the  same  hour  Don  Felipe 
was  conducting  Blanch  and  Bessie  to  the  canon,  Dick 
was  returning  to  Santa  Fe  on  horseback  from  his 
hacienda  where  he  had  passed  the  night.  As  there 
was  no  particular  reason  why  he  should  reach  the 
Posada  before  noon,  he  decided  to  indulge  his  fancy  by 
lingering  in  the  cooling  shade  of  the  canon  close  to  the 
river's  edge,  where  he  might  listen  to  the  voices  of  the 
waters  as  they  went  singing  by  him  on  their  way  to 
the  old  town  and  thence  to  the  sea. 

He  accordingly  dismounted,  and  after  lighting  a 
fresh  cigar,  stretched  himself  at  full  length  upon  the 
grass  which  grew  on  the  river's  bank,  allowing  his  horse 
to  graze  at  will.  Just  behind  him  rose  the  abrupt  wall 


WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE  157 

of  the  canon  some  thirty  or  forty  feet  in  height  which, 
at  this  hour  of  the  morning,  cast  a  deep  shadow  over  the 
spot  where  he  lay  and  halfway  across  the  river  in  front 
of  him.  It  was  just  the  sort  of  place  for  an  Indian 
or  one  of  Dick's  nature  to  linger  in  and  dream  and 
muse.  The  tips  of  the  tall  grass  and  reeds  which  grew 
close  to  the  water's  edge,  swayed  gently  in  the  fresh 
morning  breeze.  The  song  of  the  finch  and  linnet  is 
sued  from  the  thick,  low  willow  copse  growing  along 
the  river's  banks. 

How  peaceful  it  was,  and  how  sweetly  the  waters 
sang!  No  wonder  the  Indian  prized  the  peace  and 
beauty  of  nature  above  all  else.  What  was  his 
hacienda  to  this?  He  was  never  really  happy  when  the 
roof  of  a  house  intervened  between  himself  and  the  sky. 

Suddenly  his  attention  was  attracted  by  a  noise  over 
head,  and  glancing  upward,  he  sprang  to  his  feet  just 
in  time  to  avoid  a  mass  of  earth  and  stones  that  came 
rolling  down  over  the  face  of  the  cliff  and  fell  on  the 
very  spot  where  he  had  been  lying.  The  next  in 
stant,  before  he  had  time  to  realize  what  was  happen 
ing,  a  soft,  fluffy  mass  dropped  into  his  arms  with  an 
impact  that  nearly  brought  him  to  his  knees.  For 
some  seconds  Dick  looked  hard  at  the  object  in  his  arms 
in  order  to  assure  himself  that  he  really  was  awake 
and  not  still  dreaming  in  the  grass  by  the  side  of  the 
river. 

There  was  no  doubt  about  it ;  the  woman  had  arrived. 

Miss  Van  Ashton  lay  quite  still  in  his  arms ;  she  had 
fainted.  For  the  first  time  in  his  life,  a  panic  seized 
him. 


158  WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE 

"  Miss  Van  Ashton ! "  he  cried  excitedly,  bending 
over  her.  She  seemed  like  nothing,  as  light  as  a  feather 
as  she  lay  so  still  and  pale  in  his  strong  arms.  It 
seemed  as  though  he  could  have  held  her  thus  forever, 
and  he  was  almost  beginning  to  wish  that  he  might  as 
he  watched  the  pallor  of  her  face  slowly  give  way  to 
its  natural  pink  and  white  glow,  delicate  as  the  lining 
of  a  conch-shell.  Strange  that  he  had  not  noted  this 
peculiarly  piquant  and  attractive  face  before. 

"  Miss  Van  Ashton ! "  he  cried  once  more.  But 
again  there  was  no  response.  He  lowered  her  gently  on 
one  knee  in  order  that  she  might  breathe  more  freely. 
As  he  did  so,  one  of  her  hands  came  into  sudden  con 
tact  with  his  own.  Instinctively  his  hand  closed  over  it 
and  held  it  captive;  it  was  so  soft  and  warm,  just  like 
a  little  bird.  His  soul  was  sorely  tempted,  and  sad 
to  relate,  he  raised  it  to  his  lips  and  held  it  there,  at 
which  juncture  Bessie  Van  Ashton  slowly  opened  her 
eyes. 

With  a  cry,  she  was  on  her  feet  —  flushed  and  furi 
ous. 

"  Don't  be  alarmed,  Miss  Van  Ashton ! "  he  ex 
claimed,  quite  unconscious  of  the  cause  of  her  sudden 
fright.  "  You're  not  hurt  a  bit ;  you  didn't  touch  the 
ground.  You  only  fainted." 

"  How  dare  you  hold  me  in  your  arms  ?  "  she  cried. 

"  I  couldn't  help  it,  Miss  Van  Ashton ;  you  dropped 
right  into  them." 

"  How  dare  you  kiss  me,  sir?  " 

"  I  couldn't  help  that  either,"  stammered  Dick, 
covered  with  confusion  and  blushing  like  a  school-boy. 


WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE  159 

"  Insolence !  "  cried  Bessie  with  increased  vehemence, 
stamping  her  small  foot  furiously  on  the  ground. 

"  Miss  Van  Ashton,"  stammered  Dick  again,  "  I 
apologize !  I  —  I  beg  your  pardon  — " 

"  For  taking  advantage  of  a  helpless  woman  while  in 
an  unconscious  state ! "  she  interrupted.  "  A  most 
gentlemanly  act ! "  she  added  contemptuously.  Her 
words  cut  him  like  the  lash  of  a  whip,  causing  him  to 
wince,  his  face  turning  a  deep  red. 

"  I'm  sorry  — "  he  began. 

"  You  know  you're  not  sorry  at  all !  "  she  broke  in 
again  with  unabated  fury. 

"  Miss  Van  Ashton,"  he  said  again,  with  increasing 
embarrassment,  "  when  you  fell  into  my  arms  I  was  so 
surprised  and  frightened  — " 

"  Frightened?  "  She  laughed  in  his  face.  "  A  man 
who  single  handed  held  a  furious  crowd  of  men  at  bay 
as  you  did  —  frightened  ?  You  mean  that  you  were 
so  overcome  with  weakness  and  the  joy  at  finding  a 
helpless  woman  in  your  power  you  could  think  of  noth 
ing  better  to  do  than  to  kiss  her,"  she  answered  with 
all  the  sarcasm  she  could  command. 

A  twinkle  came  into  Dick's  dark  eyes  as  he  regarded 
her  for  some  time  in  silence. 

"  Miss  Van  Ashton,"  he  said,  "  if  you  only  knew  it, 
you  are  far  more  dangerous  than  a  tame  mob  of  boys." 

"  Pshaw ! "  she  exclaimed,  turning  her  back  upon 
him,  and  tapping  the  ground  nervously  with  her  dain 
tily  shod  foot.  Dick  regarded  her  narrowly  during  the 
pause  that  ensued.  She  seemed  taller  than  he  at  first 
had  thought  her,  and  was  as  slender  as  a  birch.  The 


160  WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE 

sun,  which  by  this  time  had  begun  to  peep  over  the 
top  of  the  canon  wall,  cast  a  golden  aureole  about  her 
head.  Again  he  heard  the  waters  sing  and  the  notes 
of  the  birds  issuing  from  the  willow  copse. 

"  Well !  how  much  longer  are  you  going  to  stand 
there?  Why  don't  you  say  something?  "  she  snapped, 
still  keeping  her  back  turned  toward  him.  Her  words 
inspired  him  with  fresh  confidence.  He  recognized  in 
them  a  faint  glimmer  of  interest  which  even  her  fierce 
spirit  of  resentment  had  not  entirely  succeeded  in  over 
coming. 

"  Miss  Van  Ashton,  ignore  me,  trample  me  in  the 
dust  if  you  like,  but  do  you  know,  if  it  had  been  any 
other  woman  than  yourself,  I  should  have  laid  her 
quietly  down  upon  the  ground  and  left  her  to  regain 
consciousness  as  best  she  could !  "  She  wheeled  around 
abruptly,  looking  him  straight  in  the  eyes.  There  was 
no  mistaking  the  sincerity  of  his  words,  or  the  look  that 
accompanied  them.  And  she  instinctively  felt  that  an 
impulsive,  passionate  nature  like  his  could  not  have 
helped  doing  what  he  did. 

"  I  don't  believe  a  word  you  say,"  she  said,  soften 
ing  somewhat,  a  faint  smile  lurking  about  the  corners 
of  her  mouth.  Then,  as  the  ludicrousness  of  the  situa 
tion  came  over  her,  she  burst  into  fit  after  fit  of  laugh 
ter  until  the  tears  rolled  down  her  cheeks. 

"  Oh,  dear !  "  she  sighed  at  length. 

"  You  do  forgive  me !  "  he  pleaded,  picking  up  her 
dainty  straw  hat  which  lay  on  the  ground  close  by  and 
handing  it  to  her. 

"  No,  I   don't   forgive  you.     I   don't  think   I   ever 


161 

shall,"  she  answered  in  the  severest  tone  she  could  com 
mand.  "  It  was  foolish  of  me  to  wander  away  from  the 
others,"  she  continued.  "  I  might  have  known  that 
something  would  happen,  because  something  is  always 
happening  in  this  country.  It's  perfectly  marvelous !  " 
Then,  after  a  pause,  during  which  she  placed  her  hat 
rakishly  on  one  side  of  her  head,  she  added :  "  As  a 
punishment,  Mr.  Yankton,  I'll  allow  you  to  accompany 
me  back  to  the  Posada"  Her  words  caused  his  heart 
to  jump. 

"  I  don't  deserve  it,"  he  answered,  assuming  an  air 
and  tone  of  humility. 

"  I'm  glad  you  realize  that,"  she  returned.  "  I  sup 
pose  I'm  indebted  to  you  for  saving  my  life,"  she  went 
on.  "  And  I  don't  want  you  to  think  me  ungrateful. 
Perhaps  it  would  have  been  better  though  —  She 
broke  off  abruptly,  and  then  laughed  a  strange  little 
laugh  that  puzzled  him  greatly.  She  had  at  least 
grown  communicative  again,  and  he  heaved  a  sigh  of 
relief.  He  had  gotten  off  so  much  easier  than  he  ex 
pected. 

"  One  moment,  Miss  Van  Ashton,"  he  said,  as  she 
was  about  to  take  the  lead.  He  turned  and  gave  a 
shrill  whistle.  His  horse  which  had  been  feeding  quietly 
the  while  on  the  grass  a  short  distance  from  them, 
raised  his  head  at  the  sound,  and  giving  a  low  whinny, 
came  trotting  up  to  them. 

"  Won't  you  ride?  "  he  asked,  turning  to  her.  "  He's 
quite  gentle." 

*  No,"  she  answered  rather  curtly,  "  I  prefer  to 
walk." 


162  WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE 

"  Just  as  you  say,"  he  answered  in  a  tone  of  com 
plete  submission,  taking  his  place  quietly  by  her  side. 

"  No  —  not  that  way !  "  she  said.  "  We'll  keep  the 
horse's  head  between  us." 


XVI 

THERE  had  been  no  more  shooting  or  attempts  at 
murder.  The  mail  began  to  arrive  from  home, 
and  Colonel  Van  Ashton  and  Mrs.  Forest  began  to 
breathe  easier. 

Life  at  the  old  Posada  had  settled  down  once  more 
to  its  accustomed  calm  and  routine.  The  sun  shone 
benignly  and  the  birds  sang  daily  in  the  garden  where 
the  guests  were  wont  to  pass  the  greater  part  of  the 
day.  The  gay  little  songsters  were  a  veritable  revela 
tion  to  them  —  especially  to  the  Colonel.  How  could 
such  gentle  creatures  go  on  singing  with  such  indiffer 
ence  to  the  future  in  a  land  where  life  was  held  so  cheap 
and  all  things  so  uncertain? 

Blanch  had  turned  a  deaf  ear  to  the  others'  entreat 
ies  to  return  home  at  once.  The  more  they  talked,  the 
firmer  she  became,  and  finally,  taking  matters  into  her 
own  hands,  settled  the  question  by  telegraphing  home 
for  the  twenty  trunks  of  clothes  she  left  there  on  her 
departure. 

"  Can't  you  see,"  she  said  by  way  of  explanation, 
"  how  disastrous  it  would  be  to  leave  Jack  alone  in  this 
country  with  that  — " 

"Don't  mention  her!"  interrupted  Mrs.  Forest. 

"  I  don't  see  how  we  can  help  it,"  replied  Blanch, 
"  since  fate  has  thrust  her  unbidden  into  our  lives. 

163 


164 

We  might  as  well  recognize  facts  first  as  last  since  we 
are  no  longer  in  a  position  to  choose  either  our  sur 
roundings  or  the  persons  with  whom  we  are  to  associate. 
There  is  only  one  way  to  avert  the  catastrophe  threat 
ening  us,  and  that  is  —  by  my  marrying  Jack." 

Chiquita's  beauty  filled  Mrs.  Forest  with  a  vague  and 
nameless  terror.  But  a  glimpse  of  that  dark  siren  was 
enough  to  apprise  her  of  her  son's  peril,  and  she  un 
hesitatingly  implored  Blanch  not  to  let  him  out  of  her 
sight  —  to  go  off  with  him  alone  as  often  as  possible 
and  flirt  with  him  to  any  length;  a  tremendous  con 
cession  on  Mrs.  Forest's  part  —  nothing  less  than  a 
complete  surrender,  she  being  one  of  those  proud  but 
insipid  mortals  whose  temperature  could  be  easily 
gauged  by  the  inclination  of  her  long,  slender,  slightly 
upturned  nose  which  seemed  to  be  forever  pointing  to 
ward  a  better  world.  For  her,  it  was  not  enough  that 
one's  appearance  and  innate  refinement  marked  one  as  a 
lady  or  a  gentleman,  but  it  must  be  proven  by  a  long 
deduction  beginning  with  some  obscure  ancestor  of  whom 
the  world  has  never  heard  and  whose  shortcomings  have 
been  happily  buried  in  the  oblivion  of  time.  Could  she 
have  had  her  way,  the  world  would  have  been  long  since 
wrapped  in  pink  tissue  paper,  tied  with  blue  ribbon  and 
labeled  safe.  How  she  ever  came  by  her  dauntless  son 
remains  a  mystery;  it  certainly  was  no  fault  of  hers. 

Somebody  of  a  pessimistic  turn  of  mind  once  re 
marked  that,  if  the  human  race  were  suddenly  stripped 
naked,  it  would  be  impossible  to  distinguish  the  refined 
from  the  vulgar.  A  truly  inspired  utterance.  For  as 
Captain  Forest  viewed  his  family  from  his  plane  of 


WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE  165 

vantage,  especially  after  the  leveling  process  had  set  in, 
they  strangely  reminded  him  of  a  flock  of  tame  geese 
rioting  in  a  pond.  They  made  a  great  noise  and  stir, 
but  convinced  nobody. 

Everybody  having  reached  his  level  and  been  shorn 
of  airs  and  affectations,  it  no  longer  remained  a  ques 
tion  of  what  one  was,  but  what  one  could  do.  Conse 
quently,  it  became  daily  more  and  more  difficult  to  dis 
tinguish  between  personalities.  It  is  true  there  were 
occasional  flashes  suggestive  of  submerged,  latent  fac 
ulties,  but  only  flashes ;  stupidity  and  the  common-place 
were  the  dominating  notes. 

It  was  a  wonderful  study  in  human  nature,  and  hope 
less  though  the  general  outlook  appeared,  the  future  was 
not  entirely  without  its  promise.  The  souls  of  Blanch 
and  Chiquita  shone  like  radiant  twin  stars  from  out  the 
gloomy,  abysmal  depths  of  the  Egyptian  darkness  that 
had  settled  over  the  world. 

Perhaps  the  most  remarkable  and  amusing  feature  of 
it  all  was  that,  with  the  exception  of  Blanch,  the  others 
still  seemed  able  to  take  themselves  seriously.  They 
regarded  the  Captain's  new  outlook  upon  life  as  a  com 
plete  reversion  to  the  primitive  type,  but  luckily  for 
them,  he  had  not  yet  lost  his  sense  of  compassion. 

Recognizing  the  deplorable  mental  state  to  which  his 
uncle  was  fast  sinking,  he  kept  him  supplied  with  wines 
and  cigars,  obtained  from  his  friend,  Pedro  Romero, 
the  gambler.  No  man  can  partake  of  excellent  wines 
and  cigars  for  any  length  of  time  without  feeling  his 
oats,  as  the  saying  goes ;  and  the  Colonel  proved  no  ex 
ception  to  the  rule. 


166  WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE 

He  had  just  finished  a  bottle  of  Burgundy  and,  as 
he  sat  in  the  garden  with  his  sister,  sipping  his  demi- 
tasse  and  inhaling  the  fragrant  aroma  of  a  Havana,  he 
began  to  feel  the  return  of  his  nerve.  In  fact,  had 
he  been  approached  on  the  subject,  he  would  have  ad 
mitted  that  he  felt  like  a  fighting-cock,  in  just  the 
proper  condition  to  quarrel  with  his  nephew.  Happily 
for  the  Colonel,  the  subject  of  his  thoughts  came  saun 
tering  into  view  at  this  juncture,  and  he  squared  him 
self,  assuming  an  aggressive  attitude  preparatory  to  the 
encounter  which  he  intended  to  precipitate  with  all  pos 
sible  dispatch. 

The  disgusting  complacency  with  which  his  nephew 
had  taken  to  wearing  long  trousers  over  his  riding-boots 
in  place  of  those  precious  balloon  breeches  originally 
designed  for  lackeys  but  since  adopted  as  a  becoming 
apparel  for  a  gentleman,  affected  the  Colonel's  tender 
susceptibilities  to  an  extent  almost  inducing  nausea. 
He  quite  forgot  that  he  had  been  guilty  of  a  similar 
offense  during  his  campaigning  in  the  Civil  War,  and 
naively  imagined  that  his  nephew  had  acquired  this  vul 
gar  habit  from  his  friend,  Mr.  Yankton ;  a  person  whose 
lack  of  etiquette  and  easy-going  ways  were  enough  to 
set  his  teeth  on  edge. 

The  Captain  was  looking  for  Blanch  whom  he  had 
seen  entering  the  garden  with  his  mother  and  the  Colonel, 
but  whose  return  to  the  house  he  had  not  noticed,  and 
he,  therefore,  walked  unsuspectingly  into  the  arms  of  his 
uncle. 

"  I  wish  you  would  get  rid  of  that  infernal  horse  of 
yours,"  began  the  Colonel  by  way  of  a  preliminary  to 


WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE  167 

the  skirmish,  while  his  nephew  seated  himself  unconcern 
edly  in  a  chair  opposite  him,  tilting  it  backwards  and 
leisurely  crossing  his  legs.  "  He  positively  threatened  to 
devour  me  bodily  as  I  passed  the  corral  this  morning." 

"  I  suppose  it's  because  he  has  not  yet  learned  that 
you  are  my  uncle,"  replied  the  Captain,  suppressing 
a  smile.  "  It's  strange  what  dislikes  he  takes  to  certain 
persons  when  one  considers  that  he's  as  gentle  as  a  kit 
ten  when  children  are  around;  but  I'll  try  to  teach  him 
to  distinguish  members  of  the  family  in  the  future." 

"  Look  here,  Jack !  I've  had  enough  of  this  beating 
about  the  bush.  It's  time  we  came  to  an  understand- 
ing." 

"  There's  nothing  to  prevent  it  that  I  can  see,"  an 
swered  the  Captain  with  maddening  coolness.  "  I  was 
merely  apologizing  for  an  ill-mannered  horse." 

"  Damn  your  horse,  sir ! "  cried  the  Colonel  with  in 
creasing  choler. 

"Any  time  you  are  ready,  dear  Uncle,"  replied 
the  Captain  calmly,  taking  a  cigarette  from  his  case 
and  lighting  it.  The  Colonel  ground  his  teeth  in 
silence.  His  first  encounter  with  his  nephew  could 
hardly  be  called  satisfactory  and  he  did  not  wish  a 
repetition  of  it.  He  had  come  to  argue  his  nephew 
out  of  his  folly  through  sheer  force  of  logic  and  it 
behooved  him  to  remain  as  calm  as  possible  during  the 
interview,  for  his  nephew  had  a  most  surprising  way 
of  answering  back  and  turning  the  argument  against 
one. 

"  Tell  me,"  he  began,  "  what  possible  attraction  this 
country  can  have  for  you  ?  " 


168  WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE 

"  It  would  be  quite  as  impossible  to  explain  that  satis 
factorily  to  you  as  to  make  my  reasons  clear  for  being 
here  at  all.  But  since  you  again  ask  me  for  those  rea 
sons,  I  can  only  answer  as  I  did  before.  I  have  ex 
hausted  that  felicitous  state  called  civilization.  I  want 
to  be  free." 

"  Rot ! "  cried  the  Colonel,  literally  snorting  and 
bounding  into  the  air.  "  You've  no  right  to  be  free ! 
Only  savages  and  criminals  want  to  be  free!  If  that's 
all  you  have  to  say  — "  but  his  voice  choked  and  he  re 
sumed  his  seat  in  silence. 

"  I've  never  heard  anything  quite  so  silly ! "  ex 
claimed  Mrs.  Forest  who  up  to  this  point  had  maintained 
a  discreet  silence. 

"  It's  true  nevertheless,"  continued  the  Captain  com 
posedly,  blowing  a  ring  of  blue  smoke  into  the  air. 
'*  Civilization,  you  know,  is  practically  the  same  the 
world  over.  I  have  seen  and  heard  everything,  read 
everything,  and  met  everybody  that's  worth  meeting, 
and  I'm  tired  of  seeing  and  hearing  them  over  and 
over  again,  year  in  and  year  out,  with  always  the  dead 
certainty  of  their  return  to  look  forward  to.  Our 
lives  have  become  too  stilted,  too  artificial  —  we  lack 
poise,  we  live  in  grooves.  Everything  is  overdone  — 
there  is  nothing  left  for  us  to  enjoy  —  our  finer  sensibil 
ities  have  become  dulled  —  the  simplicity  and  refine 
ments  of  life  have  been  swallowed  up  by  luxury,  tawdry 
display  and  prudism." 

"  Bosh !  "  cried  the  Colonel. 

"  Everybody,"  the  Captain  went  on,  "  knows  ex 
actly  what  his  neighbor  thinks  and  is  going  to  say, 


WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE          169 

and  should  anybody  by  any  chance  begin  to  think  dif 
ferently  and  seriously  on  life,  society  instantly  brands 
that  person  as  stupid,  if  not  a  little  queer.  We  have 
lost  our  independence." 

"  Nonsense !  "  said  Mrs.  Forest. 

"  Granted  for  the  sake  of  argument,"  broke  in  the 
Colonel,  flipping  the  ash  from  off  his  cigar.  "  But 
what  about  art,  science  and  literature,  the  real  things 
which  stand  for  civilization?  " 

"  Oh !  as  to  them,  they  are  all  right  in  themselves. 
It  is  fortunate  that  man  has  an  outlet  through  these 
manifold  channels  of  expression. 

"  They  are  the  best  part  of  our  lives  so  far  as  they 
go,  but  all  art  and  science  and  no  nature,  and  what 
becomes  of  man?  Have  they  made  the  world  happy, 
and  is  there  any  immediate  prospect  of  their  ever  do 
ing  so?  Did  the  Greeks,  who  attained  the  supreme 
heights  in  art,  find  happiness  in  their  art?  Their  his 
tory  is  the  record  of  one  long  struggle;  and  so  it  was 
with  the  renaissance  of  the  Middle  Ages,  and  so  it  is 
with  us ;  our  sciences  and  arts  can  never  change  the 
complicated  conditions  in  which  we  live.  They  have 
never  developed  the  sympathy  and  brotherly  love  which 
should  exist  between  man  and  man ;  we  are  still  bar 
barians. 

"  The  most  miserable  wretches  that  ever  lived  were 
the  very  ones  that  passed  their  lives  creating  and  the 
orizing.  They  all  forgot  and  are  still  forgetting  like 
the  rest  of  the  world  to-day  that,  these  things,  no 
matter  how  great,  amuse  and  interest  for  a  time  only; 
that  once  they  are  absorbed,  their  original  charm  and 


170  WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE 

novelty  are  gone  forever.  They  become  worn  and 
threadbare  like  all  of  man's  inventions,  and  humanity 
is  ever  left  searching  for  the  great  panacea  of  life. 

"  The  God-inspired  sing  and  talk  of  the  great  life, 
but  they  do  not  live  it  themselves,  and  that  is  why 
they  never  really  succeed  in  delivering  their  messages. 
And  they  may  continue  to  write  books  and  compose 
music,  to  paint  pictures  and  build  temples  and  hue  stat 
ues  so  long  as  this  planet  is  habitable,  but  these  things 
are  merely  an  imitation  of  the  reality  —  a  reflection 
of  the  ideal  in  man.  The  delivered  man  must  stand 
above  his  art  and  science.  He  must  recognize  that 
he  himself  is  the  well-spring,  the  source  of  his  inspira 
tion  and  is  greater  than  his  emotional  expressions.  The 
true  message  can  never  be  delivered  to  the  world  until 
the  life  for  which  these  things  stand  is  actually  lived 
out,  becomes  a  part  of  man's  daily  life." 

"  And  you  intend  to  deliver  that  message,  I  sup 
pose?  "  observed  the  Colonel  sarcastically,  smiling  com 
passionately  and  twirling  the  end  of  his  mustache. 

"  In  my  own  humble  way,  yes,  but  I  ask  no  man 
to  follow  me !  "  A  chorus  of  laughter,  in  which  were 
mingled  the  voices  of  Blanch  and  Bessie  who  had  just 
joined  the  group,  greeted  this  confession. 

"  Did  you  ever  hear  the  like  of  the  conceit  ?  "  ex 
claimed  Mrs.  Forest  as  the  laughter  subsided. 

"  Excuse  my  frankness,  Jack,  but  you're  an  ass," 
said  the  Colonel  tartly. 

"  You  set  an  example  to  the  world?  Why,  you're 
as  spoiled  as  the  rest  of  us !  "  cried  Bessie. 


171 

"  Quite  true,  Cousin,  but  with  this  difference,  I  realize 
that  fact  and  the  rest  of  you  do  not." 

"  What  a  charming  pedestal  you  have  placed  your 
self  upon,  Jack,"  said  Blanch,  seating  herself  beside 
Mrs.  Forest. 

"  Perhaps,"  returned  the  Captain  dryly,  "  but  of  one 
thing  I  am  certain.  Few  people  are  better  prepared 
to  speak  on  this  matter  than  I  am." 

"  What  an  interesting  lot  we  women  must  be  in  your 
eyes,"  broke  in  Bessie,  digressing  from  the  subject. 
Captain  Forest  smiled. 

"  Don't  misunderstand  me,"  he  went  on.  "  You  are 
trumps,  every  one  of  you,  if  you  only  knew  it,  but 
unfortunately  you  do  not.  You  are  the  most  attractive 
women  in  the  world,  but  you  are  spoiled  —  utterly 
spoiled.  You  are  the  well-groomed,  lovely  curled  and 
pampered  darlings  of  society,  but  alas !  utterly  super 
ficial,  just  like  those  brilliant  women  of  the  great 
French  revolutionary  period." 

"  I  admire  your  frankness,  Jack ;  but  what  do  you 
really  intend  doing?  What  sort  of  a  life  do  you  intend 
to  lead?"  asked  Blanch. 

"  Cease  chasing  will-o'-the-wisps  about  in  the  vain 
pursuit  of  happiness,  and  live  as  man  was  intended  to 
live  by  substituting  nature's  realities  for  man's  crea 
tions  ;  those  things  which  we  prize  most  —  which  please 
for  a  time,  but  which  in  the  end  leave  us  as  empty  handed 
as  the  day  we  first  started  in  quest  of  the  golden  fleece. 
Live  as  close  as  possible  to  nature;  cultivate  the  soil, 
watch  the  fruit  and  the  flowers  and  the  grain  grow, 


172  WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE 

and  roam  throughout  the  length  and  breadth  of  the 
land  when  the  longing  seizes  me." 

"What!"  cried  the  Colonel,  unable  to  contain  him 
self  any  longer.  "  Is  this  the  inane,  prosaic  exist 
ence  for  which  you  have  given  up  one  of  the  most 
brilliant  careers  the  world  had  to  offer  a  man?  It's 
bad  enough  to  have  wrecked  that,  but  for  one  possess 
ing  the  wealth  you  do  to  waste  his  life  after  such  fashion ; 
it's  simply  disgusting!  Think  of  what  you  might  do 
in  the  financial  world !  " 

"  That's  just  the  sort  of  answer  one  might  expect 
from  you,"  replied  the  Captain,  taking  a  fresh  pull  at 
his  cigarette.  "  You  talk  like  a  stockbroker.  That 
phase  of  labor  brings  no  real  happiness  to  any  one. 
Besides,  it  would  be  absurd  for  one  possessing  the  money 
I  do  to  spend  his  days  earning  more.  Of  course  as 
things  are  constituted  to-day,  it  is  difficult  to  get  along 
without  money,  but  in  reality  I  don't  consider  it  has  any 
thing  to  do  with  happiness.  Lasting  pleasure  and 
peace  can  only  be  found  in  the  verities  of  nature;  her 
beauties  and  realities  are  the  only  satisfying  and  en 
during  things. 

"  What  can  you  who  pass  your  days  amid  the  noise 
and  dirt  of  cities,  breathing  their  tainted  atmosphere, 
and  your  intellects  nourished  upon  artificialities  and  the 
creations  of  men's  minds,  know  of  nature?  How  many 
of  you  have  ever  gazed  long  enough  at  the  stars  to 
appreciate  their  beauty  and  mystery,  or  listened  to 
the  sound  of  the  wind  and  tried  to  guess  its  mean- 
ing?" 

"  Bah !   you   are   as   sentimental  as  a   school-girl !  " 


WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE  173 

ejaculated  the  Colonel.  "You  talk  like  one  who  has 
just  taken  a  short  course  in  Thoreau  or  Rousseau." 

The  Captain  only  laughed  in  return.  He  rose  from 
his  seat  and  began  striding  up  and  down  before  them 
with  his  hands  clasped  behind  his  back  and  his  gaze 
fixed  on  the  ground. 

"  Who  are  you,"  he  continued  passionately,  stopping 
abruptly  before  them,  "  to  assume  that  others  should 
live  according  to  your  lackadaisical,  sensuous  senti 
mentality —  your  divan,  boudoir  conceptions  of  life? 
Thoreau  and  Rousseau  and  Emerson  and  Ruskin  were 
great  men,  but  had  they  talked  less  and  actually  lived 
out  the  life  they  preached,  the  world  might  possibly 
have  been  aroused  to  a  consciousness  of  something 
higher  by  this  time;  but  they  were  too  small  for  the 
task.  It  requires  a  man  cast  in  a  bigger  mold  to 
perform  the  work  —  it  is  only  in  men  like  me  that  the 
future  hope  of  the  race  lies.  I  must  live  the  life  they 
preached.  Do  you  understand?  Why,  I  could  crush 
you  and  the  world  you  represent  in  the  hollow  of  my 
hand!  You  seek  happiness  in  the  evanescent  wine  and 
laughter  of  the  illusive,  superficial  life.  I,  too,  sought 
it  there,  but  like  you,  I  did  not  find  it." 

His  words  sank  deep  into  the  soul  of  Blanch.  She 
admired  his  strength  and  yet  hated  him  for  it.  Why, 
she  asked  herself  again,  as  she  did  on  the  day  he  first 
imparted  his  new  views  of  life  to  her,  was  she  not  moved? 
Why  was  she  still  unable  to  thrill  at  the  sound  of  his 
words  ? 

She  could  not  understand  it.  There  seemed  to  be 
something  lacking  either  in  him  or  in  her. 


WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE 

"  What  assurance  have  you,"  she  asked,  "  that  you 
will  find  happiness  in  this  new  life  which  you  propose 
to  lead?  " 

"  The  consciousness  which  tells  me  I  exist,  voices  the 
fulfillment  of  that  promise.  There  can  be  no  doubt  of 
it.  The  traditions  that  have  come  down  to  us  from  the 
past  from  all  nations  that  once  men  were  free,  is  no 
myth.  The  true  poetry  of  life,  I  repeat,  is  not  found 
in  the  epics  men  have  created,  but  in  the  sources  that 
inspired  them.  In  the  glories  of  the  earth  and  the  air, 
in  the  stars  and  mountains  and  forests  and  fields  and 
streams,  in  man,  in  the  birds  and  animals,  in  the  turn 
ing  of  the  soil  with  the  plow  and  the  spade,  and  in  the 
growing  corn.  These  are  the  things  which,  before  all 
else,  add  to  the  spiritual  growth  of  man  and  inspire 
him  to  pray  and  hope,  to  sing  and  to  love,  and  draw 
him  close  to  the  invisible  world  because  they  are  a  part 
of  the  life  of  man,  not  imitations  of  life.  The  instant 
man  realizes  this  he  will  be  free. 

"  I  know  you  cannot  understand  this,"  he  continued 
with  a  shade  of  impatience  in  his  voice,  "  for  what 
can  a  lot  of  slaves  like  you,  the  brick  and  mortar  type 
of  man,  know  of  freedom,  all  that  is  best  and  noble 
in  life?  You  are  so  bound  to  the  world  of  your  own 
creating  that  it  has  become  as  meaningless  as  a  fancy 
to  you.  Your  souls  run  on  the  dead  level;  the  great 
song  of  life  sweeps  by  you  unheeded,  and  is  gone  for 
ever." 


XVII 

QENORA  FERNANDEZ  erred  in  her  judgment  of 
^  Don  Felipe,  which  was  but  natural.  She  still  re 
garded  him  as  the  impetuous,  hot-headed  youth  of  for 
mer  days,  not  what  he  really  was  —  the  mature  man, 
sobered  by  years  of  experience  and  suffering  which 
had  taught  him  the  value  of  self-control. 

He  understood  the  nature,  knew  as  never  before  the 
mettle  of  the  woman  with  whom  he  had  to  deal,  and 
on  no  account  would  he  foolishly  precipitate  a  quarrel 
with  the  Captain.  He  would  bide  his  time  and  strike 
only  when  the  moment  seemed  propitious.  The  vague 
rumors  which  were  current  concerning  Chiquita  must 
have  some  foundation,  else  why  the  continual  gossip  on 
every  tongue?  He  would  investigate  the  matter  for 
himself,  in  his  own  time  and  way;  meanwhile  he  would 
reinstate  himself  in  the  good  graces  of  the  community 
by  making  himself  as  agreeable  and  popular  as  pos 
sible,  a  thing  not  difficult  for  one  of  his  wealth  and 
accomplishments. 

He  had  doffed  his  Mexican  costume  for  the  more 
prosaic  attire  of  the  modern  man  which  became  him 
equally  well  and  which  was  more  to  his  liking.  To  the 
cosmopolitan  that  he  had  become,  the  place  and  the  peo 
ple  had  shrunk  terribly  during  his  absence,  and  there 
seemed  to  be  little  left  in  common  between  him  and  them. 

175 


176  WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE 

The  presence  of  the  Americans  was  a  godsend  to  him, 
while  he  in  turn  was  like  a  fresh  breeze  from  the  outer 
world  to  them. 

He  instinctively  recognized  a  confederate  in  Blanch. 
They  possessed  a  common  interest  and  spent  much  time 
together.  Strange  that  the  same  fate  which  had  over 
taken  him  was  now  threatening  her!  Those  who  deny 
a  fixed  destiny  and  can  therefore  afford  to  ignore  the 
laughter  of  the  gods,  may  answer  with  some  assur 
ance  that  the  lives  of  most  people,  especially  the  marked 
ones,  are  tragic  —  perhaps.  But  why  had  Colonel  Van 
Ashton,  the  bon-vivant  and  habitue  of  clubs,  the  adored 
of  pretty  young  women  and  confidant  of  duennas,  taken 
the  one  road  which  led  to  the  wilderness  when  it  is  well 
known  that  all  roads  lead  to  Rome,  especially  when  the 
Colonel  had  about  as  much  interest  in  his  present  sur 
roundings  as  a  polar  bear  might  reasonably  expect  to 
find  on  the  equator?  Possibly  it  was  for  the  same 
reason  that  the  Colonel  also  watched  with  increasing 
alarm  the  sudden  and  growing  interest  which  his  daugh 
ter  began  to  take  in  the  man  he  detested  most  on  earth. 

Reveal  the  cause,  the  hidden  well-spring  of  destiny, 
and  the  effect  may  be  predicted  with  comparative  ac 
curacy.  Can  the  lamb  lie  down  with  the  lion?  Were 
there  ever  substantial  grounds  for  the  assertion,  or  was 
it  only  metaphor  —  mere  poetical  allusion?  The  world 
has  been  on  the  qu'i  vive  for  the  fulfillment  of  prophecy 
ever  since  the  expulsion  of  our  common  ancestry  from 
Eden.  The  actual  motives  and  reasons  which  underlie 
the  workings  of  destiny  are  usually  about  as  clear  as 
those  which  bereft  Samson  of  his  locks  or  left  the  lone 


WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE  177 

figure  of  Marius  seated  amid  the  ruins  of  Carthage. 
And  yet,  even  in  the  face  of  time-worn  contradictions 
apparent  to  the  most  superficial  and  credulously  minded, 
pretty,  distracting  Bessie  Van  Ashton  had  begun  to  cast 
her  eyes  in  the  direction  of  Dick  Yankton,  the  hand 
some,  open-handed,  devil-may-care  son  of  nature  who  re 
garded  the  world  of  fashion  to  which  she  belonged 
with  about  as  much  concern  as  he  did  the  dust  on  his 
boots. 

Possibly  ennui  prompted  this  willful  bit  of  woman 
hood  to  make  a  plaything  of  that  picturesque  child  of 
nature,  just  as  loneliness  caused  him  to  open  his  eyes 
to  the  existence  of  that,  which  in  the  logical  and  or 
dinary  course  of  events,  he  would  have  entirely  over 
looked.  But  since  life  is  made  up  almost  entirely  of 
contraries,  it  is  not  so  much  with  reasons  that  we  have 
to  deal  as  with  facts  —  things  as  they  are.  Clothe 
human  nature  in  whatever  garb  you  like,  at  heart  it 
remains  the  same.  Time  and  place  and  condition  make 
little  difference;  the  real  man  within  is  sure  to  assert 
himself  at  some  time  or  other  by  throwing  off  the  dis 
guise. 

Was  Bessie,  the  spoilt,  pampered  child  of  fashion 
with  her  soft,  white  body,  any  more  fit  for  a  life  lived 
close  to  nature  than  Blanch  who  was  naturally  strong, 
sinuous  and  supple,  though  so  softened  by  luxury  and 
the  overrefinements  of  civilization?  To  all  appear 
ances,  no.  And  yet,  the  very  things  which  seemed  to 
pass  by  Blanch  unheeded,  began  imperceptibly  to  im 
press  themselves  upon  Bessie.  Possibly  because  Blanch 
was  so  strong  and  individualized  that,  having  once  given 


178  WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE 

herself  up  wholly  to  the  present  life,  she  was  enslaved 
irrevocably  by  it  —  held  fast  by  it  with  a  power  that 
had  grown  with  her  strength  day  by  day  —  so  that  while 
a  weaker  woman  might  slip  through  the  meshes  and 
escape,  she  was  held  irresistibly  bound  through  her  own 
force  and  strength  of  character. 

The  spell  and  magic  of  the  land  seemed  to  hold  like 
an  unseen  hand  all  things  as  in  the  grip  of  a  vice,  and 
were  no  less  potent  in  the  present  than  they  were  in 
the  past.  The  plaintive  notes  of  the  wood-dove  found 
a  response  within  Bessie's  soul.  The  winds  seemed 
laden  with  new  voices  and  unconsciously  interrupted  the 
train  of  her  thoughts  and  caused  her  to  pause  and  listen 
and  wonder.  The  wild,  forbidding  landscape  from 
which  her  stronger  companion  involuntarily  shrank,  for 
some  unknown  reason  attracted  her.  The  broad  ex 
panse  of  heaven  and  earth,  the  far  horizon,  the  hazy, 
mysterious  silhouetted  peaks  of  distant  mountains 
aroused  vague  longings  within  her  —  emotions  which  she 
did  not  understand  and  concerning  which  she  failed  in 
her  attempts  to  analyze. 

Had  she  been  at  home,  she  would  have  regarded  these 
new  sensations  as  sentimental  enthusiasm  and  laughed 
at  them,  denying  them  a  permanent  place  in  her  nature. 
But  here,  it  was  different.  They  seemed  to  have  a  hold 
upon  one  and  were  as  irresistible  as  those  vague  long 
ings  that  come  with  the  awakening  of  spring.  There 
was  music  everywhere  in  the  world  about  her.  Flowers 
of  the  imagination  sprang  from  the  desert  on  every 
hand.  Voices  and  hands  called  and  beckoned  to  her 
from  out  the  unseen.  The  quickening  and  awakening 


WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE          179 

within  her  gave  promise  of  a  new  life,  and  her  feet  be 
came  light  as  sunbeams.  The  fact  of  being  alive  and 
the  increasing  desire  to  live  filled  her  with  a  new  joy 
and  vigor  that  darted  through  her  soul  like  tongues 
of  flame,  causing  her  blood  to  surge  and  tingle  as  never 
before  since  the  days  of  childhood. 

A  genuine  interest  in  the  new  life  and  the  lives  of  those 
about  her,  took  the  place  of  the  apathy  and  indifference 
with  which  she  regarded  the  sated  pleasures  of  that 
jaded  world  from  which  she  had  departed  so  recently. 
She  had  come  to  be  bored  —  fully  resigned  for  Blanch's 
sake  to  endure  the  ennui  of  mere  vegetation  until  the 
prodigal  Jack  had  been  safely  gathered  within  the  fold 
once  more.  After  the  rude  shock  of  first  impressions 
had  passed  and  she  had  found  time  to  pause  and  breathe, 
she  began  to  cast  her  eyes  about  her  for  something  more 
real  and  tangible  than  the  memories  of  the  world  she 
had  left  behind  her,  but  had  failed  to  find  anything 
of  interest  until  the  occurrence  of  that  unfortunate 
episode  with  Dick. 

His  arms  still  clung  to  her  in  spite  of  the  persistent 
efforts  she  made  to  shake  them  off.  And  stranger  still, 
no  amount  of  scrubbing  seemed  to  remove  the  sting 
of  those  burning  kisses  he  had  impressed  upon  her  hand. 
That  unpardonable  piece  of  impudence  was  unprec 
edented.  Men  had  made  love  to  her,  adored  her,  and 
completely  lost  their  heads  over  her;  and  one  man  in 
particular,  as  she  well  knew,  was  scouring  the  ends 
of  the  earth  in  an  effort  to  obtain  news  of  her  present 
whereabouts.  Much  to  her  astonishment,  however,  and 
contrary  to  her  preconceived  notions  concerning  men, 


180  WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE 

she  found  that  she  had  suddenly  lost  interest  in  this 
particular  man  for  another. 

But  why?  What  was  the  cause  of  this  newly  awak 
ened  interest  in  Dick?  Was  it  because  he  was  so  dif 
ferent  from  the  men  she  had  known,  or  was  it  that 
strong  touch  of  the  feminine  in  him  which  certain  sensi 
tive  masculine  natures  possess ;  that  rare,  distinguishing 
characteristic  which  is  so  attractive  to  men  and  women 
alike?  Did  any  real  affinity  exist  between  them?  How 
could  it,  considering  the  different  conditions  and  en 
vironment  in  which  they  had  been  reared  and  the  width 
of  the  gulf  that  divided  them?  What  then  was  the 
cause  of  this  attraction  which  in  spite  of  her  efforts  to 
check  it,  was  beginning  to  become  a  source  of  vexa 
tion  to  a  woman  of  the  world  who  had  always  prided 
herself  on  being  able  to  keep  herself  well  in  hand? 

That  it  might  be  love,  or  even  the  dawning  of  love, 
she  refused  to  admit.  She  shuddered  at  the  mere 
thought  of  such  a  catastrophe.  The  thing,  however, 
was  becoming  annoying.  Like  any  thought  which  we 
hold  too  long  in  our  minds,  it  was  bound  to  absorb 
all  others  in  time,  and  she  resolved  to  make  an  end  of 
it.  She  would  play  with  him.  One  could  not  maintain 
a  serious  interest  in  that  which  one  treated  as  a  jest 
—  held  up  to  ridicule.  She  would  play  with  him  like 
an  expert  angler  plays  with  a  fish,  and  when  landed, 
would  walk  over  him  rough-shod  —  trample  him  back 
into  the  dust  of  that  coarser  clay  from  which  he  sprang. 

Ah,  yes,  the  country  was  not  so  dull  after  all!  It 
would  be  a  royal  lark ;  a  holiday  long  to  be  remembered. 
They  were  so  far  from  the  great  world  that,  when  it 


WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE  181 

was  all  over,  not  even  the  slightest  rumor  or  breath 
of  scandal  would  remain  to  remind  her  of  the  flirta 
tion  upon  which  she  had  decided  to  embark. 

With  these  thoughts  running  through  her  mind,  the 
fascinating,  violet-eyed  daughter  of  Colonel  Van  Ash- 
ton  lightly  dipped  the  tips  of  her  dainty  fingers  into  a 
rouge-pot,  glanced  into  the  mirror  and  drew  them  across 
her  lips,  and  then  deliberately  attired  herself  in  one  of 
her  smartest  gowns  preparatory  to  flinging  the  first 
bones  of  condescension  to  the  rustic  Yankton;  the 
preliminaries  of  a  series  of  expectations  and  hopes  de 
ferred  that  were  intended  to  reduce  him  to  a  state  of 
submission  suitable  to  receive  the  final  kick  which  was 
to  leave  Mr.  Yankton  a  wiser  but  a  sadder  man. 


XVIII 

BLANCH  stood  before  a  long  mirror  that  adorned 
one  of  the  walls  of  her  room,  trying  the  effect  of 
a  new  tea-gown. 

The  mirror  was  an  ancient  piece  of  furniture  con 
sisting  of  a  faded  gilt  frame  and  six  separate  rows 
of  large,  unevenly  fitting  squares  of  glass ;  the  style 
that  was  in  vogue  two  centuries  ago.  As  she  regarded 
herself  in  it,  she  saw  herself  reflected  in  sections,  prob 
ably  with  much  the  same  effect  as  Marie  Antoinette 
saw  her  reflection  at  Versailles. 

"  Coronada  must  have  brought  this  mirror  with  him 
on  his  first  expedition,"  she  remarked  to  Bessie  who 
lounged  on  the  sofa  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  room 
amid  a  heap  of  florid  cushions.  "  I  feel  as  though  I 
had  a  personal  grudge  against  that  man,"  she  continued, 
vainly  endeavoring  to  catch  an  unbroken  outline  of 
herself  in  the  glass. 

"  It's  stunning,  Blanch ! "  broke  in  Bessie  from  the 
sofa.  "  What  is  it  —  a  Worth?  " 

"  No  —  a  Doucet.  Isn't  it  absurd  that  I  should  array 
myself  in  these  gorgeous  gowns  to  compete  with  that  In 
dian  in  her  few  flimsy  calicoes  and  silks?  The  con 
trast  is  out  of  all  proportion.  It's  the  sublime  and 
the  ridiculous.  And  yet  she  looks  well  in  anything! 

182 


WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE  183 

Dress  her  in  rags  and  she  is  picturesque;  robe  her 
in  silks  and  she  is  fascinating." 

"  That's  just  what  I  can't  understand,"  said  Bessie. 
"  We  couldn't  wear  her  clothes,  but  she  can  wear  ours. 
Why  is  it?" 

"  It's  quite  simple.  We  have  been  handicapped  from 
the  start  because  we  have  been  forced  to  compete  with 
them  on  their  own  ground.  They  are  perfectly  nat 
ural  ;  they  have  nothing  and  aspire  to  nothing,  while  we 
are  wholly  artificial  —  have  everything  and  aspire  to 
more." 

"  Why,  to  hear  you,  one  would  think  that  Jack 
was  talking !  "  exclaimed  Bessie  in  genuine  surprise. 

"  Oh !  I  don't  pretend  to  agree  with  his  views,  but  as 
regards  us,  he's  about  right.  I  was  never  able  to  see 
ourselves  as  some  others  see  us  until  we  came.  here.  And 
I  have  come  to  the  conclusion  that  our  views  of  life 
are  about  as  distorted  as  the  cracked  reflection  of  my 
self  in  the  mirror  yonder.  We  have  unconsciously 
lived  a  life  antagonistic  to  nature  and  consequently  find 
ourselves  ridiculous  in  our  simplest  endeavors  to  be  nat 
ural.  Of  course,"  she  added,  "  they  would  appear  the 
same  if  things  were  reversed  and  we  had  them  on  our 
ground. 

"  With  us,"  she  went  on,  "  marriage  is  more  a  game 
of  intrigue  than  love;  here  it  is  purely  one  of  senti 
ment.  Aside  from  my  intrinsic  value,  what  weapon 
have  I  to  employ  against  this  Indian  woman?  The 
things  which  count  for  so  much  with  us,  fall  flat  here. 

"  Why,  I'm  not  even  in  a  position  to  make  Jack 
jealous!  If  I  were  at  home,  I  would  have  a  dozen 


184  WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE 

men  at  my  feet  and  as  many  more  as  I  wished  to  play 
off  against  him,  not  to  mention  the  thousand  oppor 
tunities  for  neglect.  In  fact,  all  the  weapons  which  we 
women  are  so  fond  of  employing  against  men.  Whereas, 
here  I  am  at  the  feet  of  my  Lord  Jack  —  his  indif 
ference  is  insufferable!  Oh!  I'll  pay  him  back  for 
this !  "  she  cried,  pale  with  anger. 

"  Men  are  brutes  —  all  of  them  !  "  remarked  Bessie 
laconically,  rising  to  a  sitting  posture  on  the  sofa. 

"  I  hate  him  —  hate  him !  "  continued  Blanch  in  a 
fresh  paroxysm  of  passion.  "  To  think  that  he  of 
all  men  should  have  been  the  one  chosen  to  show  me 
myself  —  the  only  one  of  us  who  was  strong  enough 
to  break  away!  Why  was  I  not  able  to  hold  him? 
Why  am  I  not  able  to  come  to  him  now?  There  is 
something  wrong  somewhere.  We  seem  to  have  lost 
our  grip  on  things.  I  can't  understand  it !  "  Just  then 
the  old,  gilt  French  clock  on  the  white  marble  mantel 
piece  slowly  chimed  the  hour  of  five.  The  sound  of 
the  clock  caused  Blanch  to  pause.  "  Five  o'clock," 
she  said,  calming  herself.  "  Don  Felipe  will  be  wait 
ing  for  us  in  the  garden." 

"  That's  so,"  answered  Bessie,  rising  from  the  sofa 
and  crossing  the  room  to  the  window  which  looked  out 
over  the  patio  into  the  garden.  "  There  he  is  now, 
pacing  back  and  forth  beneath  the  trees.  WThat  a  rest 
less  man  he  is  !  " 

"  After  the  first  cup,  you  might  disappear,  Bess," 
said  Blanch.  "  I  want  to  try  to  find  out  if  he  still 
cares  for  that  Indian  ?  " 


185 

"  That  was  the  most  romantic  thing  I  ever  heard ! " 
exclaimed  Bessie. 

"  I  wonder  he  ever  returned,"  answered  Blanch,  open 
ing  the  door  and  leading  the  way  across  the  patio  in 
the  direction  of  the  garden.  The  tinkle  of  a  guitar  at 
tracted  their  attention  to  a  group  of  peons  and  women 
squatted  on  their  heels  on  one  side  of  the  court,  in  the 
shade  of  the  arcades,  smoking  and  chatting.  A  little 
beyond  them,  in  the  shadow  of  the  doorway,  stood  the 
major-domo,  Juan  Ramon  and  the  pretty  housekeeper, 
Rosita. 

"  D los!  but  she  is  magnifico  —  the  tall  one !  "  whis 
pered  Juan  to  Rosita  as  the  girls  passed  them,  nodding 
and  smiling  in  response  to  Juan's  deep  salutation  and 
Rosita's  courtesy. 

"  And  the  little  one,"  said  Rosita  in  turn.  "  Is  she 
not  like  a  half-blown  pink  rose?  " 

"  Aye !  'tis  a  feast  for  the  eyes  to  look  at  them !  "  an 
swered  Juan.  "  There  has  not  been  so  much  life  in  the 
place  since  the  old  days  when  the  Master  was  alive." 

"  If  Don  Felipe  doesn't  marry  one  of  them  he's  a 
fool,"  added  Rosita. 

"  That's  just  what  I  have  been  saying  to  myself," 
returned  Juan. 

"  What  else  can  he  be  doing  here  if  he  doesn't  intend 
to  take  one  of  them  back  to  his  hacienda  with  him?  " 
continued  Rosita.  "  I've  noticed  that  he  and  the  tall 
one  spend  much  time  together." 

"  Aye !  "  ejaculated  Juan.  "  It  must  be  lonely  at  the 
old  rancho  without  a  woman  to  keep  him  company." 


186  WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE 

"  The  tall  Senorita  would  be  just  the  one  for  the 
place !  "  exclaimed  Rosita  enthusiastically. 

*'  Rosita  Tm'fl,"  began  Juan  confidentially  after  a  short 
silence,  during  which  his  gaze  rested  pensively  on  the 
retreating  figures  of  the  girls,  "  I've  just  been  think 
ing  that  there  is  no  happiness  for  a  man,  still  less  for 
a  woman,  in  a  single  life.  What  say  you,  Rosita  mia" 
he  went  on,  patting  her  familiarly  on  the  cheek. 

"  Juan  Ramon,"  interrupted  Rosita  with  an  angry 
flush,  "  if  you  don't  want  to  get  your  face  slapped, 
you  had  better  behave  like  a  Caballero!  " 

"  Caramba!  what  a  little  spitfire ! "  returned  Juan, 
pulling  the  end  of  his  thin  mustache,  yet  not  in  the  least 
disconcerted  by  her  show  of  temper.  "  But  supposing, 
my  pearl  of  a  housekeeper,  that  I  bought  a  neat  little 
rancheria  —  do  you  know  of  any  one  who  might  care 
to  look  after  it?" 

"Bah!  First  pay  your  gambling  debts,  Juan  Ra 
mon.  There  will  then  be  time  enough  to  look  for  some 
one  who  will  allow  herself  to  be  beaten  on  feast-days 
when  you  have  drunk  more  pulque  than  is  good  for  you. 
But  Dios!  why  am  I  wasting  words  with  you?  The 
Senoritas  will  begin  to  wonder  what  has  become  of  their 
chocolate  and  tortillas  if  I  don't  hurry." 

"  Ungrateful  woman,"  responded  Juan,  assuming  an 
injured  tone.  "  Would  you  leave  me  without  a  kiss?  " 

"  Holy  Mother !  what  has  come  over  you,  Juan  Ra 
mon  —  has  the  sunshine  gone  to  your  head?  A  kiss,  in 
deed  !  "  and  she  tossed  her  head.  "  Go  to  Petronita,  the 
cook !  She  is  old ;  doubtless  she  will  give  you  a  plenty !  " 
and  laughing,  she  hurried  into  the  dining-room  in  search 


WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE  187 

of  a  tray  with  which  to  serve  the  ladies.  The  mere 
mention  of  the  ancient,  withered  Petronita,  with  the 
parchment-like  face,  caused  Juan's  mouth  to  pucker  as 
though  he  had  bitten  into  an  unripe  persimmon. 

"  Diablos!  if  the  luck  would  only  change!  "  he  mut 
tered.  "  Rosita  would  be  the  very  one  —  The  sound 
of  light  footsteps  and  the  tinkle  of  spurs  caused  Juan  to 
turn. 

"  Ah !  buenas  dias,  Senorita !  "  he  exclaimed,  lifting 
his  hat  and  bowing  before  Chiquita,  who  had  entered  the 
patio  from  the  opposite  side  of  the  house.  Her  riding- 
habit,  her  boots  and  gloves  and  gray  felt  hat  beneath 
which  were  twisted  her  thick  braids  of  hair,  were  covered 
with  thin  white  particles  of  dust. 

"  Where  is  your  mistress,  Dona  Fernandez,  Juan?  " 
she  asked. 

"  I  will  call  her,  Senorita,"  answered  Juan,  replacing 
his  hat  on  his  head  and  starting  for  the  hallway. 

"  Never  mind,  Juan,"  called  Chiquita,  catching  sight 
of  Blanch  and  Bessie  in  the  distance.  "  I  will  first 
speak  with  the  Senoritas,"  and  she  turned  toward  the 
garden. 

Juan's  beady  black  eyes  followed  her  tall  figure  as 
she  moved  toward  the  girls.  Ever  since  the  arrival  of 
the  Americans  there  had  been  much  discussion  in  the 
household  as  to  which  was  the  more  beautiful,  Blanch  or 
Chiquita.  The  Senora's  dislike  for  the  latter  was 
well  known,  but  in  spite  of  this  prejudice,  opinion  was 
pretty  evenly  divided  concerning  the  merits  of  the  two. 
It  was  a  vexing  question,  and  the  opportunity  of  com 
paring  the  two  women  as  they  met  in  the  garden  was  too 


188 

tempting  to  be  missed.  So,  with  one  end  of  his  zerape 
slung  carelessly  over  his  shoulder,  Juan  strolled  casually 
past  the  little  group  of  women  in  the  direction  of  the 
corrals,  where  he  could  observe  them  at  his  leisure  from 
the  recesses  of  the  garden  without  attracting  atten 
tion. 

Notwithstanding  the  fact  that  the  dark  woman  was 
at  a  disadvantage  in  her  dust-covered  riding-habit,  he 
could  not  for  the  life  of  him  tell  which  was  the  more 
beautiful  of  the  two  as  he  passed  behind  a  thicket  of  lilac 
bushes,  and  seated  himself  on  a  rustic  bench  and  began 
rolling  a  cigarillo  between  his  long  slim  fingers. 

Juan  was  a  born  gambler,  and  like  all  of  his  tribe, 
was  usually  in  want  of  money.  To-day  he  needed  it 
more  than  ever,  for  that  very  morning  his  mistress  had 
taunted  him  and  threatened  to  leave  him  if  he  did  not 
pay  for  the  new  dresses  she  had  recently  purchased,  and 
for  which  she  was  now  being  dunned  by  her  creditors. 
Never  had  he  had  such  a  run  of  bad  luck.  During  the 
great  week  of  the  Fiesta  he  had  tried  everything  from 
roulette  to  monte,  but  fortune's  wheel  had  turned  stead 
ily  against  him.  It  was  truly  the  devil's  own  luck 
and  no  mistake.  If  only  the  luck  would  turn,  he 
would  quit  the  game  of  chance  forever  —  cast  off 
the  ungrateful  Dolores,  and  .  .  .  He  drew  a  much- 
worn  pack  of  cards  from  his  breast  pocket  and  began 
cutting  them  with  a  dexterity  acquired  through  long 
years  of  practice. 

Like  all  of  his  race,  and  the  majority  of  mankind  for 
that  matter,  he  was  intensely  superstitious.  Three  times 
in  succession  he  cut  and  dealt  the  cards,  and  three  times 


WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE  189 

the  ace  of  hearts,  the  luckiest  card  in  the  pack,  turned 
face  upwards  on  the  bench. 

"  Santa  Maria!  'tis  a  miracle  —  the  luck  has  changed 
at  last !  "  he  muttered  excitedly,  as  with  dilated  eyes  and 
trembling  hands  he  gathered  up  the  cards  and  replaced 
them  carefully  in  his  pocket.  His  dream  of  the  haci 
enda  and  the  fair  Rosita  might  yet  come  true.  But 
how?  The  cards  were  too  fickle  to  trust  for  long.  Just 
then  the  rich,  deep  voice  of  Chiquita  fell  upon  his  ears. 
Without  knowing  why,  yet  intuitively  he  seemed  to  con 
nect  her  with  the  turn  in  his  fortune  —  and  it  set  him 
thinking. 

Ever  since  the  Fiesta,  curiosity  had  prompted  him  to 
learn  something  concerning  Chiquita's  motive  for  danc 
ing;  and  whenever  the  opportunity  presented  itself,  he 
had  shadowed  her.  His  patience  was  soon  rewarded 
by  learning  that  she  made  frequent  visits  to  the  Indian 
pueblo,  Onava,  often  riding  there  in  the  late  evening 
under  cover  of  the  dusk.  On  one  occasion  he  saw  an 
Indian  ride  forth  from  the  village  and  meet  her  on  the 
plain  where  she  awaited  him.  They  engaged  in  long 
and  earnest  conversation,  at  the  end  of  which  he  fancied 
he  saw  Chiquita  draw  nearer  to  her  companion  and 
hand  him  something,  and  then  the  darkness  shut  them 
from  view.  He  did  not  dare  follow  her  farther  or  enter 
the  village,  for  fear  of  attracting  suspicion  to  himself; 
but  surely  this  was  a  clew  to  something,  to  the  mystery, 
perhaps. 

At  this  juncture,  Juan  rolled  a  fresh  cigarillo  as  he 
listened  to  the  voices  of  the  women,  his  eyes  resting  on 
Captain  Forest's  horse  in  the  corral  beyond  the  garden. 


190  WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE 

The  animal  fascinated  him ;  never  had  he  laid  eyes  on 
such  a  superb  creature.  Each  day  he  visited  the  corral 
for  a  look  at  him,  and  each  time  the  Chestnut  would  rush 
at  him  with  ears  laid  flat  on  his  neck  and  mouth  wide 
open,  displaying  his  formidable  teeth. 

"  Caramba!  what  an  animal  to  stock  a  rancho  with, 
if  only — "  Juan  sighed,  and  for  some  moments 
roundly  cursed  the  past  run  of  cards.  The  afternoon 
sun  was  pleasantly  warm,  and  the  shade  sleep  inviting. 
He  threw  the  burnt  end  of  his  clgarillo  on  the  ground, 
and,  drawing  up  his  feet,  stretched  himself  at  full  length 
on  the  bench  —  the  upper  half  of  his  fox-like  face  ap 
pearing  just  above  the  edge  of  his  zerape. 

Dios!  was  it  not  better  to  sleep  and  even  dream  bad 
dreams,  than  waking,  meditate  upon  the  misfortunes  of 
life? 


XIX 

Chiquita  entered  the  garden,  she  had  just 
returned  from  an  Indian  Mission  School  for 
girls,  some  ten  miles  distant  from  Santa  Fe,  whither 
she  rode  once  a  week  to  instruct  its  pupils  in  the  art  of 
blanket  and  basket  weaving;  an  art  which  she  had  prac 
ticed  from  her  earliest  days. 

Her  affair  with  Don  Felipe  was  bad  enough,  and 
though  she  had  been  generally  condemned  for  it,  her 
woman's  prerogative  was  recognized  nevertheless.  But 
for  a  lady,  and  ward  of  a  priest,  to  dance  in  public  and 
for  money,  was  a  thing  unheard  of;  and  gossip  was  fast 
giving  her  an  unenviable  reputation.  This  latest  esca 
pade,  as  it  was  generally  termed,  had  nearly  cost  her  her 
position  in  the  school.  When,  however,  it  was  taken 
into  consideration  that  her  services  were  gratuitous  and 
that  it  would  be  impossible  to  replace  her  by  any  one 
else  half  as  competent,  the  directors  of  the  institution 
discreetly  demurred,  deciding  that  it  would  be  better  to 
humor  the  caprices  of  this  fair  barbarian  who  ruled  su 
preme  in  her  department. 

The  greeting  which  took  place  between  her  and 
Blanch  was  cordial  enough  to  all  outward  appearances. 
Considering  the  tension  and  delicacy  of  the  situation,  the 
volcanic  nature  of  the  two  and  the  intense  longing  of 
each  to  fly  at  the  other  and  settle  their  differences  then 

191 


192  WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE 

and  there,  the  self-control  of  the  two  was  commend 
able  in  the  extreme. 

"  Do  you  ride  much,  Senorita?  "  asked  Blanch,  eyeing 
critically  her  riding-skirt  and  wondering  how  it  was 
that  such  an  antiquated  cut  could  sit  her  so  well. 

"  I  don't  think  I  could  live  without  a  horse,"  replied 
Chiquita.  "  I  often  think  I  must  have  been  born  on 
one;  at  least,  I  can't  remember  the  day  when  I  first 
learned  to  ride.  It  was  good  to  get  back  here  after  my 
six  years  at  school  for  the  sake  of  riding,  if  for  nothing 
else.  I  don't  believe  either  of  you  know  what  the  real 
joys  of  riding  are,"  she  went  on,  pulling  the  glove  from 
her  right  hand  and  sipping  the  chocolate  which  Bessie 
had  handed  her. 

"  Not  until  one  has  passed  weeks  and  months  in  the 
saddle  at  a  time  does  one  thoroughly  realize  what  riding 
means,  or  appreciate  the  worth  and  companionship  of  a 
horse."  She  paused,  and  a  look  of  longing  came  into 
her  large,  lustrous  eyes,  as  the  memory  of  her  early  life 
came  back  to  her,  when  she,  with  her  people,  roamed 
free  through  the  land. 

"  Dlos!  but  I  have  been  unhappy  ever  since  you 
came,  Senorita,'*  she  resumed,  changing  the  subject  ab 
ruptly  and  addressing  Blanch.  "  The  knowledge  that 
you  are  constantly  near  him  almost  drives  me  mad  at 
times.  And  your  dresses  —  they  haunt  me  in  my 
dreams !  I  never  before  imagined  that  dress  was  of  so 
much  importance  in  this  world."  She  was  so  outspoken 
and  withal  so  natural,  that  both  Blanch  and  Bessie 
burst  into  a  peal  of  good-natured  laughter  in  which 
Chiquita  joined. 


WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE  193 

"  We  women,"  she  continued,  taking  another  sip  of 
chocolate,  "  have  nothing  to  fall  back  upon  except  our 
old  antiquated  Spanish  costumes  —  you  can  imagine 
what  we  would  look  like  in  the  modern  clothes  we  pro 
cured  here.  I  have  never  been  placed  in  such  a  ridicu 
lous  position  before,  and  if  I  only  knew  that  you 
were  as  miserable  as  I  am,  I  think  I  might  begin  to 
enjoy  the  humor  of  the  situation."  Again  all  three 
laughed. 

"  Ah,  love,  what  a  thing  is  love !  "  she  sighed,  placing 
her  slender  gloved  hand  over  her  heart.  "  It  makes  one 
as  miserable  as  it  does  happy."  Then  suddenly  turning 
to  Blanch,  she  asked :  "  Have  you  always  dressed  like 
that?  " 

"  I  have  always  tried  to  live  up  to  a  certain  stand 
ard,"  replied  Blanch. 

"  And  how  long  have  you  known  him?  " 

"  Oh !  as  long  as  I  can  remember  —  twenty  years, 
perhaps." 

"  Twenty  years,  and  always  looked  like  that  and  not 
married  to  him  ?  Sweet  Mother  of  God !  "  she  cried  in 
the  quaintest  tone  imaginable,  sinking  back  in  her  chair. 
"  Had  I  known  him  as  many  weeks  I  had  either  married 
him  or  killed  myself !  " 

"  Nobody  takes  love  so  seriously  as  that !  "  laughed 
Blanch. 

"  Ah !  you  have  never  loved  him !  "  she  said,  after  a 
short  silence. 

"  Why  do  you  suppose  I  am  here?  "  returned  Blanch. 

"  Then  how  could  you  have  lived  near  him  all  these 
years  without  marrying  him?  " 


194 

"  It  was  a  mistake,  I  admit,"  answered  Blanch  good- 
humoredly.  "  But  you  must  understand  that  we  don't 
regard  love  in  quite  the  same  light  as  you  do.  We  don't 
make  a  great  fuss  about  it  and  talk  of  killing  ourselves, 
and  that  sort  of  thing.  We  get  married  when  we  find  it 
convenient." 

"  Ah,  yes,  I  know,"  answered  Chiquita,  "  but  I'm 
sure  you  can  never  be  as  much  to  him  as  I  can.  What 
have  you  endured,  what  have  you  suffered  to  make  you 
feel  and  realize  the  full  significance  of  love?  " 

"  Do  you  imagine,"  asked  Blanch  in  surprise,  "  that 
there  is  any  less  of  the  woman  in  me  because  I  have  been 
spared  the  things  which  you  perhaps  have  been  forced  to 
endure,  or  that  one  must  first  suffer  before  one  is  capable 
of  loving?  " 

"  No,  I  don't  think  that,  for  love  is  a  thing  like  sleep, 
it  comes  upon  us  unawares.  But  it  seems  to  me  I  am 
better  fitted  for  him  than  you  are;  that  my  love,  tem 
pered  by  my  life's  experience,  must  be  fuller  and  deeper 
and  richer  than  that  which  you  have  to  offer  him. 
What,"  she  continued,  "do  you  really  know  of  life? 
Not  the  social  side  of  it,  of  which  your  life  has  been  so 
full,  but  life  as  it  really  is?  Were  you  born  under  the 
open  heavens?  Have  you  slept  on  the  hard,  cold 
ground,  exposed  to  the  weather,  or  nearly  perished  of 
hunger  and  thirst?  Could  you  feed  and  clothe  your 
self  from  the  naked  earth  without  the  assistance  of  oth 
ers  ?  Have  you  seen  men,  women  and  children  starve,  or 
ruthlessly  struck  down  by  your  side,  or  nursed  them 
through  some  terrible  scourge  like  the  smallpox? 

"  All  your  life  you  have  been  protected  and  cared  for, 


WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE  195 

while  all  my  life  I  have  been  obliged  to  face  the  reality 
of  things,  forced  to  work,  to  procure  the  simple  necessi 
ties  of  life.  I  have  carried  wood  and  water,  cooked,  and 
fed  and  clothed  myself  and  others  with  the  materials 
provided  by  my  own  hands.  And  yet,  when  I  look  back 
upon  my  life,  I  would  not  surrender  one  hour  of  the  true 
happiness  the  day's  work  brought  with  it  could  I  thereby 
have  escaped  the  suffering  and  bitterness  it  often  en 
tailed.  Barren  though  my  life  may  appear  from  your 
point  of  view,  I  know  it  to  be  infinitely  rich  in  compari 
son  to  yours,  for,  as  I  have  said,  you  have  never  known 
what  life  really  means  —  never  experienced  its  hard 
ships,  never  beheld  the  bright  face  of  danger,  nor  tasted 
the  joys  of  the  great  free  life  in  the  open,  the  simple 
daily  life  devoid  of  the  cares  of  civilized  men,  without 
which  the  life  of  a  man  can  never  be  complete,  be  he 
what  he  may. 

"  '  Where  the  foot  rests,  that  is  home,'  is  a  saying 
among  my  people ;  a  truth,  that  so  far  as  my  experience 
goes,  has  never  been  gainsaid." 

In  spite  of  themselves  and  the  fact  that  they  could  not 
wholly  comprehend  the  weight  and  significance  of  her 
words,  they  were  fascinated  by  her  discourse,  empha 
sized  and  illustrated  as  it  was  by  the  dramatic  intensity 
of  her  gestures  and  expression. 

"  Senorita,"  said  Blanch  at  last,  breaking  the  silence 
that  ensued,  "  I  believe  you  are  still  at  heart  the  savage, 
or  better,  the  nomad  you  were  when  you  lived  in  the  wil 
derness." 

"  When  I  lived  in  the  Garden  of  Eden,  in  God's  world, 
not  man's,  is  what  you  mean,"  she  replied. 


196  WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE 

"  Do  you  never  have  a  desire  to  return  to  it  ?  "  asked 
Bessie. 

"  The  old  days  can  never  be  effaced,"  answered  Chi- 
quita.  "  My  thoughts  continually  revert  to  them  when, 
as  a  little  girl,  I  used  to  set  meat  and  drink  before  my 
father  and  his  guests  as  they  sat  in  a  circle  about  the 
fire  in  the  center  of  his  lodge  or  in  our  house  and  smoked 
the  long  red  clay  pipes,  or,  after  the  crops  were  har 
vested,  roamed  through  the  land  during  the  hunting 
season ;  sometimes  afoot,  at  other  times  in  canoes  or  on 
horseback.  There  are  times  when  such  an  insatiable 
longing  for  the  old  life  seizes  me  that  I  become  almost 
unmanageable.  I  long  to  throw  myself  down  in  the  open 
—  lie  close  in  the  embrace  of  Mother  Earth,  and  breathe 
the  smoke  of  the  camp-fire.  My  unrest  is  like  that  of 
the  birds  when  the  spell  of  the  spring  and  the  autumn 
comes  upon  them  and  the  migratory  instinct  seizes  them, 
or  like  that  of  the  great  herds  of  reindeer  in  the  North 
which  travel  each  year  to  the  sea  to  drink  of  its  salty 
waters,  and  which,  if  prevented,  die." 

"  Do  you  know,"  said  Bessie  to  Blanch  a  little  later, 
when  they  were  alone  in  their  room,  "  she's  fascinating 
when  she  talks  like  that." 

"Ah!  that's  just  where  the  danger  lies,"  answered 
Blanch.  "  Think  of  what  might  happen  if  she  starts 
talking  like  that  to  Jack  —  it's  just  what  he's  waiting 
to  hear." 


'XX 

JUAN  must  have  fallen  asleep.  As  he  lay  stretched 
upon  the  bench,  he  was  awakened  suddenly  by  the 
sound  of  vehement,  passionate  words. 

Peering  cautiously  through  the  bushes,  he  beheld  Chi- 
quita  and  Don  Felipe  standing  facing  one  another  in 
the  same  spot  where  the  three  women  had  been  but  a 
short  time  before.  He  was  not  near  enough  to  overhear 
the  conversation,  but  judging  from  the  vehemence  of 
their  gestures  and  high-pitched  voices,  he  rightly  con 
jectured  that  their  meeting  was  anything  but  an  amica 
ble  one. 

On  seeing  Chiquita  with  Blanch  and  Bessie,  Don 
Felipe  had  discreetly  refrained  from  joining  them  as  he 
had  promised;  he  would  make  his  apologies  to  them  in 
the  evening.  The  opportunity  for  which  he  had  been 
waiting  since  his  return  had  come  —  he  must  see  Chi 
quita  alone.  So  he  withdrew  to  a  far  corner  of  the  gar 
den,  where  he  could  observe  the  women  without  being 
seen,  and  when  Blanch  and  Bessie  returned  to  the  house, 
he  intercepted  her.  Although  she  had  hourly  expected 
to  meet  him  ever  since  she  had  been  apprised  of  his  re 
turn,  his  appearance  was  so  sudden  she  was  taken  una 
wares.  She  had  reseated  herself  after  Blanch  and  Bes 
sie  left  and  sat  leaning  with  one  elbow  on  the  table  and 
her  head  resting  in  her  hand,  lost  in  thought.  She  did 

197 


198  WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE 

not  hear  his  approach  from  behind,  but  at  the  first 
sound  of  his  voice  she  started  to  her  feet,  turning  like  a 
flash  and  facing  him.  Her  movement  was  so  sudden  and 
unexpected  that  he  too  was  taken  aback. 

"  You  evidently  did  not  expect  to  see  me  this  after 
noon,"  he  began  with  some  hesitancy. 

"  I  did  not,"  she  replied  coldly.  "  I  should  have 
thought,"  she  continued,  looking  him  full  in  the  eyes, 
"  that  the  manhood  in  you  would  have  forever  prevented 
your  return."  Felipe  winced  under  her  words.  A 
dark  flush  of  anger  suffused  his  face,  and  his  lips  quiv 
ered  in  an  effort  to  frame  the  hot  words  he  was  about  to 
utter  in  reply,  but  he  checked  himself. 

"  One  is  sometimes  forced  to  follow  the  bidding  of  an 
instinct  or  desire  even  against  one's  will,"  he  said,  con 
trolling  himself  with  difficulty.  She  drew  her  glove  on 
her  right  hand  without  replying  and  took  a  step  in  the 
direction  of  the  patio,  as  though  to  depart. 

"  Chiquita ! "  he  exclaimed,  stepping  quickly  in  front 
of  her  and  barring  her  way,  "  I  have  tried  my  best  to 
remain  away,  but  in  spite  of  myself,  I've  been  drawn  ir 
resistibly  back  to  you  —  I  could  not  help  it.  Besides," 
he  added,  "  you  must  realize  what  it  costs  me." 

"  Better  had  you  spared  yourself  the  humiliation,  Don 
Felipe,"  she  answered. 

"  Listen,  Chiquita,  to  what  I  have  to  say  !  " 

"  Spare  yourself  the  pain,  Don  Felipe  Ramirez. 
Nothing  you  can  say  can  alter  my  attitude  toward 
you,"  she  interrupted. 

"  You  must  hear  what  I  have  to  say !  "  he  cried  pas 
sionately,  without  heeding  her  impatience.  "  Ever  since 


WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE  199 

we  parted,  I  have  done  nothing  but  travel,  travel,  over 
the  face  of  the  earth,  in  the  vain  hope  of  forgetting  you. 
And  if,  during  that  time,  I  have  committed  excesses,  it 
was  the  love  of  you  that  drove  me  to  it  in  order  that  I 
might  efface  you  from  my  memory  forever.  But,  as  you 
see,  I  cannot  do  it,  and  —  I  have  come  back  again." 
It  was  easy  to  read  the  agony  in  his  heart,  divine  the 
suffering  which  his  humiliation  caused  him,  and  yet  his 
words  did  not  move  her;  not  an  atom  of  pity  did  they 
arouse  within  her,  knowing  as  she  did  the  arrogant,  self 
ish  being  that  he  was. 

"  Chiquita,  I  love  you  still ! "  he  burst  forth. 

"  How  dare  you  speak  of  love  to  me?  "  she  cried. 
"  Have  you  forgotten  Pepita  Delaguerra,  whom  you 
ruined,  for  whose  death  you  are  responsible?  You 
laughed  and  went  on  your  way ;  she  was  only  a  flower  to 
be  broken  and  tossed  aside.  Well,  I've  not  forgotten 
the  day  on  which  I  found  her  alone  and  deserted,  nor 
the  hour  of  her  death." 

"  Chiquita,"  he  interrupted,  "  if  suffering  can  atone 
for  that  misdeed  — " 

"  Ah !  not  so  fast,  Don  Felipe  Ramirez,"  she  an 
swered,  cutting  him  short.  "  Let  us  understand  one  an 
other  once  and  for  all !  She  forgave  you  with  her  dying 
breath,  but  as  I  knelt  over  her  dead  body,  I  vowed  that 
if  ever  you  crossed  my  path  and  made  advances  to  me 
that,  as  sure  as  there's  a  God  in  heaven,  I  would  encour 
age  you,  lead  you  on  until  you  were  mad,  and  then  fling 
you  from  me  like  the  dog  that  you  are  in  order  that  you, 
too,  might  learn  what  it  is  to  live  without  the  one  you 
love !  " 


200  WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE 

Had  she  spat  in  his  face,  she  could  not  have  aroused 
the  tiger  in  him  more  effectually. 

"  Chiquita !  "  he  cried,  gasping,  his  face  livid  with 
rage,  "  you're  a  devil !  " 

"  No,  I'm  only  a  woman  who  had  the  courage  to 
avenge  another  woman's  wrong,"  she  answered  quietly. 
"  Don't  imagine  that  a  wrong  committed  can  ever  be 
atoned  for.  It  may  be  condoned  by  the  world,  or  even 
forgiven  by  the  one  who  was  wronged,  but  that  is  all; 
the  deed  stands  forever  written  against  one."  She 
watched  him  as  he  paced  back  and  forth  with  clenched 
hands  and  teeth,  his  face  ashen,  his  lips  quivering,  his 
whole  being  convulsed  with  emotion  and  remorse.  For 
some  minutes  he  was  quite  unable  to  speak,  the  longing 
to  scream  and  seize  her  by  the  throat  and  throttle  her 
was  so  overpowering. 

"  I  understand,"  he  said  at  length,  in  the  calmest  tone 
he  could  command,  "  you  love  Captain  Forest ;  you 
think  to  marry  him." 

"  That's  no  concern  of  yours !  "  she  retorted,  hotly. 

"  Listen,  Chiquita,"  he  said,  fiercely.  "  The  cold 
blood  that  flows  in  his  veins  can  never  satisfy  the  warm 
passion  of  the  South  —  a  woman  of  your  nature.  I  am 
richer  than  he  is;  I  can  strew  your  path  with  gold.  I 
will  make  amends  for  the  past ;  I  was  young,  then.  My 
one  desire  in  life  will  be  to  fulfill  your  slightest  wish,  to 
live  for  your  happiness  only.  Any  sacrifice  you  name, 
I  will  make.  I  will  make  over  my  entire  fortune  to  you 
if  you  will  consent  to  our  marriage." 

"  It  makes  me  sick  to  hear  you  talk  of  love  and  mar 
riage,"  she  answered.  "  Your  idea  of  love  is  solely  that 


WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE  201 

of  possession.  What  sort  of  love  could  one  like  you 
give  me  in  comparison  to  his?  " 

"  Ah !  you  do  love  him !  But  you  will  never  marry 
him,"  he  retorted  furiously.  "  If  I  do  not  possess  you, 
no  one  else  shall!  " 

"  Ah!  you  will  kill  me,  perhaps?"  she  said,  divining 
his  thought.  "  Well,  then,  be  it  so !  What  greater  felic 
ity  could  there  be  for  me  than  to  die  in  the  knowledge 
that  he  loves  me  —  perhaps  in  his  arms  ?  "  She  drew 
back  a  pace  and  placing  both  hands  on  her  breast,  said : 
"  Strike,  Don  Felipe,  when  and  where  the  moment 
pleases  you  best !  " 

"  Ha  !  ha !  ha !  "  he  laughed.  "  How  could  you  take 
me  to  be  so  simple,  so  foolish?  Oh,  no,  Sefiorita,  not  un 
til  the  hour  that  you  have  exchanged  vows  and,  intoxi 
cated  by  love's  first  kiss,  he  presses  you  to  his  heart, 
then  —  then,  Sefiorita,  will  I  lay  him  dead  at  your  feet 
in  order  that  you  also  may  realize  what  it  is  to  live  with 
out  the  one  you  love,"  he  said  with  a  sneer,  a  faint  smile 
wreathing  his  cruel  lips  as  he  watched  the  effect  his 
words  had  upon  her.  There  was  a  malicious  gleam  of 
exultation  in  his  eyes  as  he  saw  her  draw  herself  to 
gether  suddenly  and  shudder  as  though  struck  by  a 
knife. 

"  What  say  you  to  that,  Sefiorita?  "  and  he  laughed 
in  her  face. 

"  What,  dead  at  my  feet  ?  Such  a  one  as  you  come 
between  me  and  my  happiness  ?  "  The  rich  red  bronze 
of  her  face  faded  to  a  livid  hue,  almost  white  in 
its  intensity.  A  strange,  terrible  light  came  into  her 
eyes  and,  as  she  glided  close  up  to  him,  he  recoiled  from 


202  WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE 

her  in  terror  as  though  from  a  panther  about  to  spring. 
Don  Felipe  had  never  stood  so  near  to  death  before. 
She  halted  and  raised  her  right  hand  as  if  to  strike  him 
across  the  face,  then  paused  and  lowered  it. 

"  Don  Felipe  Ramirez,"  she  hissed  in  an  almost  in 
audible  voice,  "  if  you  so  much  as  harm  a  hair  of  his 
head,  I'll  tear  you  limb  from  limb !  " 

"  Bah !  "  he  replied,  recovering  his  equilibrium.  "  Do 
you  think  I  fear  a  woman?  " 

"  Don  Felipe,"  she  began  slowly,  controlling  with  ef 
fort  the  violent  emotions  that  swept  over  her,  "  it  is  no 
idle  boast  if  I  remind  you  that  no  one  in  Chihuahua 
shoots  better  than  I  do." 

"  Ha !  "  he  laughed,  snapping  his  fingers.  "  You 
think  to  kill  me?  " 

"  And  if  I  did,"  she  replied  slowly,  her  voice  vibrant 
with  passion,  "  you  would  not  be  the  first  man  I  have 
killed,  Don  Felipe  Ramirez.  And  what's  more,  if  it 
comes  to  a  question  of  you  or  him,  I'll  kill  you  as  I 
would  a  snake  or  sage-rabbit."  He  started.  He  began 
to  see  her  in  a  new  light.  With  her  subtle  wit,  her  grace 
and  alluring  beauty,  she  was  far  more  dangerous  than 
a  man ;  but  he  was  not  intimidated.  Craven  though  his 
soul  might  be,  he  could  not  be  accused  of  cowardice  in 
the  face  of  danger.  Besides,  what  had  he  to  live  for? 
Better  be  dead  than  forced  to  live  without  her. 

"  Hearken,  Don  Felipe  Ramirez,"  she  continued 
calmly,  her  eyes  riveted  on  his  face.  "  I  have  ridden 
many  times  in  battle  by  the  side  of  my  father  before  his 
death.  The  last  time  came  very  near  being  my  end; 
it  was  when  the  Government  sent  troops  against  my 


203 

people,  and  we  were  surrounded  in  the  hills.  That  day 
my  horse  was  killed  under  me  twice.  All  day  long  we 
fought  and  charged  the  enemy's  lines,  but  to  no  avail  — 
we  could  not  break  them.  The  young  officer  in  com 
mand  of  the  Government's  troops  not  only  outgeneraled 
all  our  maneuvers,  but  his  life  seemed  charmed,  for, 
fire  at  him  as  often  as  we  liked,  we  could  not  hit  him. 
Finally  realizing  that  there  was  no  hope  of  escape  so 
long  as  he  remained  in  command,  I  rode  forth  alone  be 
tween  the  lines  and  challenged  him  to  single  combat. 
He  accepted  the  challenge,  but  when  he  drew  near  and 
saw  that  I  was  a  woman,  he  refused  to  fight,  for  he  was 
gallant  as  he  was  brave.  But  I  was  too  quick  for  him; 
I  forced  him  to  fight.  His  bullet  went  through  my 
shoulder,  mine  through  his  heart."  She  paused  for  an 
instant,  then  resumed.  "  So,  just  as  we  that  day  passed 
over  that  brave  young  officer's  body,  so  shall  I  pass  over 
yours,  Don  Felipe  Ramirez,  if  you  persist  in  standing 
in  my  way." 

For  the  first  time  he  saw  her  in  her  true  light  —  the 
Amazon,  the  woman  who  had  been  trained  to  fight  as  men 
fight,  and  who  had  fought  shoulder  to  shoulder  with  men. 
He  was  silent.  Never  had  she  appeared  so  beautiful,  so 
terrible,  so  alluring  and  irresistible  as  during  her  re 
cital.  The  hour  had  come;  the  circle  of  death  had 
closed  about  them,  and  he  knew  now  for  a  certainty 
that  it  meant  either  his  life  or  hers ;  that  there  was  no 
longer  any  hope  of  a  reconciliation,  no  longer  room  for 
them  both  in  this  life. 

"  Do  you  imagine  that  I  fear  the  threats  of  a 
woman?  "  he  said  at  last,  in  the  same  sneering  tone  as 


204  WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE 

before,  in  which  she,  too,  read  his  unmistakable  an 
swer. 

"  You  have  been  warned,"  she  answered  quietly,  and 
giving  him  a  last  searching  look,  she  turned  and  left  him 
abruptly.  Had  ever  mortal  drunk  deeper  of  the  cup 
of  humiliation  than  he?  The  sound  of  her  footsteps 
and  tinkle  of  her  spurs  died  away  along  the  pathway  as 
she  disappeared  around  the  corner  of  the  house.  He 
noted  that  she  carried  herself  as  erect  as  ever;  every 
movement  bespoke  the  unconquerable  pride  of  her  race. 
God!  how  he  hated  her!  What  would  he  not  give  to 
break  that  pride  —  that  pride  which  seemed  to  enable 
her  to  surmount  every  obstacle.  It  was  not  enough 
to  kill  Captain  Forest.  No,  she  must  be  broken  com 
pletely,  humiliated  in  the  eyes  of  the  world,  humbled  to 
the  dust  as  he  had  been  humbled;  nothing  short  of  that 
could  satisfy  him  now.  But  how,  how  was  her  ruin  to 
be  accomplished?  he  asked  himself  as  he  paced  back  and 
forth,  almost  suffocating  with  rage.  Suddenly  an  idea 
flashed  through  his  mind,  causing  him  to  stop  short. 

"  Ah !  "  he  cried  aloud,  "  why  did  she  dance ;  why 
has  she  concealed  her  motive  so  carefully  from  the 
world?  It  must  be  the  clew  to  some  mystery  in  her 
life !  God !  if  I  could  but  learn  the  reason  — " 

"What  would  Don  Felipe  Ramirez  give  to  know?" 
came  a  voice  from  behind  him,  causing  him  to  start  and 
turn  around  just  in  time  to  see  Juan  emerge  from  the 
lilac  bushes. 

*'  Juan  Ramon  !  "  he  exclaimed. 

"  Aye,  Caballero!  "  replied  Juan  lightly,  raising  his 
sombrero  as  he  advanced. 


205 

"What  do  you  know?"  asked  Felipe,  half  contemp 
tuously,  regarding  him  with  keen,  searching  eyes. 

"  Don't  worry  about  what  I  know ;  leave  that  to  me 
for  the  present,"  answered  Juan,  his  peculiarly  cold 
smile  lighting  up  his  face.  "  But  what  will  you  give  to 
know,  Don  Felipe  Ramirez?  "  he  continued,  with  the 
keen  air  of  the  tradesman  who  beholds  a  sure  customer 
before  him  and  is  determined  to  drive  a  sharp  bargain. 

"What  will  I  give?"  repeated  Felipe,  slowly,  re 
lapsing  into  thought.  For  some  time  he  was  silent,  dur 
ing  which  he  regarded  Juan's  features  intently,  as  if  to 
assure  himself  of  the  latter's  good  faith.  Then  sud 
denly  and  impetuously  he  cried :  "  I'll  tell  you,  Juan 
Ramon !  I'll  give  you  gold  enough  to  keep  you  drunk 
and  your  mistress  clothed  in  silks  and  satins  for  the  rest 
of  your  days  !  Aye,  the  finest  pair  of  horses  in  all  Mex 
ico  shall  draw  your  carriage,  and  you  shall  have  money 
to  gamble." 

"  Then  have  patience  for  but  a  little  while  longer, 
Don  Felipe  Ramirez,"  replied  Juan,  rubbing  the  palms 
of  his  long,  slim  hands  together,  as  though  he  already 
felt  the  magic  touch  of  the  gold  and  heard  its  musical 
clink  in  his  ears. 

"  I  hear  that  fortune  has  played  you  false  of  late, 
Juan  Ramon,"  said  Felipe. 

"  'Tis  the  very  devil,  Senor ! "  answered  Juan  with 
an  oath. 

"  Here,  take  this,"  continued  Felipe,  handing  him  a 
roll  of  bank  notes  which  he  drew  from  his  pocket. 
"  You  shall  have  as  many  men  and  horses  to  assist  you 
in  the  work  as  you  want,"  he  added. 


206  WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE 

"  Horses  I  will  need,  but  no  men,  Don  Felipe,"  re 
plied  Juan,  jubilant  over  the  return  of  fortune.  The 
bargain  was  better  than  he  had  anticipated. 


XXI 

TAICK  YANKTON  had  taken  on  a  new  lease  of 
•*-^  life.  He  no  longer  walked  —  he  flew.  Like 
Hermes  of  old  his  feet  seemed  to  have  become  suddenly 
endowed  with  wings,  with  the  result  that  his  head  was 
coming  into  dangerous  proximity  to  the  clouds. 

"  Dios!  what  had  come  over  Senor  Dick,  who  was  on 
the  best  of  terms  with  every  man,  woman  and  child  and 
dog  in  Santa  Fe  ?  "  So  potent  was  the  draught  which 
he  had  imbibed,  that  he  appeared  to  have  been  stricken 
suddenly  with  blindness  and  the  loss  of  memory  at  one 
and  the  same  instant.  The  salutations  of  his  friends 
and  acquaintances  who  greeted  him  when  he  walked 
abroad  were  left  unnoticed;  his  gaze  fixed  dreamily  on 
space  before  him.  What  had  happened?  Had  he 
come  into  possession  of  a  new  mine,  or  was  he  engaged  in 
locating  one  through  means  of  that  psychic  sense  or  in 
ner  vision  of  the  seer  which  he  seemed  to  possess?  Had 
the  real  cause  of  his  perturbation  been  guessed  —  that 
a  woman's  smile  had  suddenly  opened  heaven's  gates  to 
him,  a  ripple  of  laughter  would  have  gone  the  rounds  of 
Santa  Fe.  The  mere  suggestion  that  the  Senor  Dick 
could  be  seriously  in  love  was  too  absurd;  his  friends 
were  too  well  acquainted  with  the  flirtatious  side  of  his 
nature  ever  to  credit  such  a  possibility.  And  yet,  when 
Anita,  his  Indian  housekeeper  and  wife  of  his  overseer 

207 


208  WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE 

and  general  factotum,  Concho,  saw  the  amazing  quanti 
ties  of  flowers,  still  wet  with  the  morning's  dew,  that 
were  daily  transported  to  the  Posada,  her  suspicions 
became  aroused.  She  began  to  question  Concho  con 
cerning  them,  and  when  he  finally  admitted  that  a  woman 
was  the  recipient  of  them,  she  raised  her  eyebrows  with 
the  knowing  look  of  a  woman  who  has  guessed  the 
truth. 

"  I  thought  so,"  she  answered  quietly,  a  peculiar  smile 
illumining  her  dark  countenance  as  she  seated  herself  in 
the  doorway  of  the  refectory  which  opened  on  the  patio, 
and  disposed  herself  comfortably,  preparatory  to  the 
interesting  bit  of  gossip  which  she  intended  to  screw 
out  of  her  husband. 

She  was  of  medium  height,  of  the  spare,  slender  type, 
and  must  have  been  attractive  in  her  youth,  for  even 
now,  in  spite  of  middle  age,  she  was  comely  to  look 
upon.  She  wore  a  red  rose  in  her  black  hair,  while  a 
partially  drooping  eyelid  gave  a  piquant,  coquettish 
expression  to  her  face. 

"  Holy  Virgin !  but  this  is  interesting !  "  she  went  on 
after  a  pause.  "  The  Senor  in  love,  really  in  love !  " 
and  she  laughed  quietly  to  herself,  while  she  took  a 
pinch  of  tobacco  and  a  leaf  of  brown  paper  from  the 
pocket  of  her  apron  and  began  rolling  a  cigarette. 

"  Bah !  "  said  Concho,  accompanying  the  exclamation 
with  a  shrug  of  the  shoulders.  "  You  women  are  always 
imagining  things  which  do  not  exist.  Have  we  not  often 
seen  the  Senor  like  this  before?  Has  he  not  completely 
spoiled  the  Senoritas  of  the  town  with  his  flowers  ?  He's 
bored.  He's  trying  to  amuse  himself,  that's  all." 


WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE  209 

"  And  didst  thou  not  say,"  continued  Anita,  without 
heeding  his  remarks,  regarding  him  out  of  the  corners 
of  her  eyes  while  lighting  her  cigarette,  "  that  she  is 
not  quite  so  tall  as  the  other  one,  but  equally  beautiful 
in  her  way;  that  she  is  pink  and  white  at  one  and  the 
same  moment,  just  like  a  half-blown  rose,  and  soft  and 
satiny  as  the  down  on  a  swan's  neck  ?  " 

"  It  is  all  true,  Anita  mia,  she  is  even  that  and 
more !  "  responded  Concho  with  warmth.  "  She  is  worth 
a  journey  to  the  Posada  to  see,  but  then,  what  is 
that  —  what  are  a  few  wisps  of  flowers  ?  " 

"Wisps?  Armfuls,  thou  meanest,  Concho!  When 
did  the  Senor  ever  lavish  so  many  flowers  upon  one 
woman  before?  He  told  me  they  were  for  the  hospital," 
she  chuckled,  "  but  I  have  always  been  able  to  tell 
whether  the  Senor  was  speaking  the  truth  or  not.  Thou 
knowest  the  way  he  has  of  saying  the  opposite  to  that 
which  he  means,"  and  she  blew  a  ring  of  smoke  into  the 
still  air  and  watched  it  as  it  floated  upwards. 

"  Concho,"  she  said  after  some  moments'  reflection, 
"  thou  art  a  fool !  I  always  said  thou  wert,  and  now  I 
know  it.  The  hospital  —  bah !  How  could  he  have 
ever  thought  me  so  simple?  "  she  exclaimed  in  a  tone  of 
mingled  sarcasm  and  disgust.  "  I  tell  thee,  Concho,  all 
women  are  the  same  either  on  this  side  of  the  world  or 
the  other.  The  one  thou  hast  just  described  to  me  is 
the  most  dangerous  of  all  women  for  a  man  like  the 
Senor  to  meet.  That  is,  if  she  is  clever,"  she  added. 
"  But  have  we  not  all  heard  how  clever  and  beautiful 
the  Americana  Senoritas  are?" 

"  Aye,  there  is  nothing  to  compare  with  them  in  the 


210 

whole  land,  with  the  exception  of  the  Chiquita,  of 
course,"  replied  Concho. 

"Exactly;  just  what  I  have  been  saying,  Concho 
mio,"  Anita  went  on,  surveying  her  spouse  with  a  look 
of  pitying  superiority.  "  Why,  only  yesterday,  when 
he  was  here,  I  knew  instantly  by  his  air  of  distraction 
that  something  unusual  had  happened.  Never  has  he 
been  so  particular  before.  He  went  all  over  the  place, 
inspecting  everything  to  the  minutest  detail,  just  like 
a  woman.  Nothing  pleased  him ;  and  when  he  came  to 
the  flowers,  which  everybody  knows  are  the  finest  in  all 
Chihuahua,  he  declared  they  were  not  fit  for  a  dog  to 
sniff  at,  and  rated  the  gardeners  soundly  for  their  neg 
ligence. 

"  Ah !  "  she  sighed,  the  expression  of  her  counte 
nance  softening,  "  the  place  needs  a  mistress  badly  — 
it  is  the  one  thing  it  lacks.  There  was  a  time  when  I 
hoped  it  might  be  the  Chiquita,  but  since  fate  has  or 
dained  that  it  should  be  otherwise,  let  us  pray  that  it 
may  be  this  one.  In  fact,"  she  exclaimed,  looking  up 
and  emphasizing  her  words,  "  from  what  thou  hast  told 
me  of  her,  I  know  it  will  be  she  or  none,  and  may  heaven 
grant  that  it  please  the  Saints  either  to  give  her  to  him 
or  protect  him  from  her,  for  the  Senor  is  a  man  who 
can  really  love  but  once.  Take  a  woman's  word  for  it, 
Concho,  these  are  the  true  symptoms  of  love."  Hav 
ing  delivered  herself  thus  forcibly,  she  tossed  aside  the 
end  of  her  cigarette  and  rose  from  the  doorsill. 

"  Thou  wert  always  a  fool,  Concho,"  she  added,  re 
garding  him  compassionately  with  a  smile  and  patting 
him  on  the  cheek.  Then  turning,  she  disappeared  in  the 


WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE  211 

house,  leaving  Concho  to  marvel  at  her  astuteness,  a 
thing  he  had  never  suspected. 

Meanwhile,  the  subject  under  discussion  was  pacing 
the  floor  of  his  room  in  the  Posada  like  a  caged  lion. 
For  one  whole  week  Bessie  Van  Ashton  had  seemingly 
thrown  wide  the  portals  of  her  heart  and  bade  him  en 
ter,  a  privilege  of  which  he  was  not  slow  to  avail  him 
self.  Never  had  woman  flirted  to  better  advantage  or 
succeeded  more  effectually  in  turning  a  man's  head  in 
so  short  a  time  as  had  this  distracting,  fair-haired 
witch.  The  only  regret  experienced  by  Mr.  Yankton 
during  these  hours  of  unalloyed  happiness,  was  the 
thought  of  the  days  he  had  lost  —  days  which  might 
have  been  spent  in  her  society  had  he  only  known.  How 
blind  he  had  been  not  to  have  recognized  her  the  instant 
he  had  set  eyes  on  her,  instead  of  compelling  the  Al 
mighty  to  remind  him  that  she  was  the  woman  that  had 
been  reserved  for  him  by  dropping  her  down  out  of  a 
clear  sky  into  his  arms!  How  stupid  of  him,  and  how 
patient  Providence  was  with  some  of  us  at  times ! 

During  the  few  short  days  which  followed  that  happy 
accident  —  days  that  seemed  like  so  many  swift,  fleeting 
seconds,  Dick  floated  on  a  summer  sea  whose  surface 
was  unmarred  by  shadow  or  ripple.  All  the  world  had 
changed.  He  felt  as  though  he  had  only  just  begun 
to  live,  and  he  spun  a  golden  web  of  fancies  out  of  the 
reality  of  things  which,  for  one  so  deeply  versed  in  the 
game  of  life,  was  a  marvel  of  beauty,  fair  as  a  poet's 
dream,  yet  more  substantial.  And  why  not?  Had  not 
his  life  been  one  replete  with  adventure  and  romance 
from  the  cradle?  His  meeting  with  Bessie  was  no  more 


212  WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE 

remarkable  than  many  other  things  that  had  occurred 
during  his  lifetime.  It  was  now  perfectly  clear  to  him 
why  he  had  built  the  hacienda  in  the  face  of  adverse 
judgment.  It  was  for  her,  of  course.  A  place  in  which 
to  enshrine  and  worship  her  during  the  years  to  come ; 
for  what  else  could  it  be  ? 

That  insane  notion  of  a  white-haired  patriarch  en 
joying  the  solitude  of  the  place  was  too  absurd  —  a  mor 
bid  fancy  born  of  loneliness  and  melancholy.  The  walk 
back  to  the  Posada  on  the  day  of  their  startling  en 
counter  and  the  hours  spent  in  Bessie's  society  since 
then  —  strolling  and  chatting  in  the  garden,  or  going 
for  long  rides  over  the  plains  together,  had  convinced 
him  it  was  not  intended  that  man  should  live  alone. 
He  had  taken  good  care  that  she  should  learn  nothing 
of  the  existence  of  the  hacienda  or  of  his  wealth,  and  as 
little  as  possible  concerning  himself,  except  that  he  was 
an  agreeable  young  man  with  fair  prospects;  and  thus 
far,  thanks  to  the  Captain's  silence  and  her  ignorance 
of  Spanish,  he  had  succeeded  admirably. 

Fair  prospects !  The  secret  was  almost  too  good  to 
keep,  and  he  laughed  softly  to  himself  as  he  mused  upon 
it.  It  was  truly  an  inspiration;  just  the  sort  of  thing 
to  hand  out  to  one  of  Newport's  smart-set.  Although 
he  had  not  yet  proposed  to  her,  he  regarded  their  mar 
riage  as  a  foregone  conclusion ;  an  event  of  the  near 
future.  She  certainly  had  led  him  to  infer  as  much, 
and  the  plan  he  had  conceived  regarding  it  was  highly 
ingenious  —  one  worthy  of  his  fertile  imagination.  Di 
rectly  they  were  married,  they  would  spend  the  first 
fortnight  of  their  honeymoon  camping  in  the  mountains 


WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE 

in  a  style  worthy  of  a  grand  Mogul,  after  which  he 
would  suggest  that  they  pass  the  night  at  a  near-by 
rancTio  belonging  to  a  friend,  and  in  this  wise  introduce 
her  to  her  future  home. 

The  rapture  of  the  picture  fairly  dazzled  him,  and  he 
lay  awake  whole  nights  contemplating  it  —  the  patio 
palely  illumined  by  the  moonlight,  the  murmur  of  the 
fountain  in  its  center,  the  perfume  of  flowers,  the  melo 
dious  voices  of  the  dark-skinned  Indian  attendants,  bear 
ing  flaming  torches,  and  chanting  the  time-honored  wel 
come  to  their  new  mistress,  and  her  insistent  demands  to 
be  introduced  to  their  host;  and  then  the  delightful  de 
nouement,  the  surprise  she  must  experience  when  the 
truth  finally  dawned  upon  her.  Truly  poet  never 
dreamed  a  fairer  dream.  It  had  taken  him  a  whole 
week  to  conceive  the  idea  in  detail,  and  on  the  morning 
of  the  seventh  day  on  which  he  had  decided  to  ask  her 
to  become  his  wife,  he  stood  with  the  horses  before  the 
Posada  expectantly  awaiting  her  appearance  to  take  the 
ride  they  had  agreed  upon  the  night  before.  At  the  end 
of  an  hour,  during  which  he  fretted  over  the  undue  de 
lay  with  the  same  impatience  as  did  the  horses,  Rosita 
appeared  and  informed  him  that  the  Senorita  Van  Ash- 
ton  would  not  ride  that  morning;  she  was  not  feeling 
well.  A  wild  alarm  seized  him.  The  thought  that  she 
might  have  been  stricken  suddenly  with  some  serious  ill 
ness,  quite  unnerved  him  for  the  moment.  **  Caramba!  " 
he  cried,  quite  forgetting  his  English.  "  What  has 
happened?  Is  it  serious?  Is  anything  being  done?" 
But  all  inquiries  concerning  the  actual  state  of  the 
Senorita's  health  proving  fruitless,  he  was  left  to  pass 


WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE 

the  remainder  of  the  day  wandering  aimlessly  about 
the  garden  in  the  vain  hope  of  finding  something  to 
divert  his  mind.  Had  he  been  in  possession  of  his  usual 
calm,  he  might  have  noticed  the  amused  expression  on 
Rosita's  face,  but  the  extent  of  one's  concern  being  the 
measure  of  one's  love  for  a  person,  he  saw  only  the 
vivid  mental  picture  of  his  consuming  passion,  Bessie, 
suffering  Bessie ! 

It  was  the  first  jarring  note  in  that  state  of  un 
interrupted  bliss  which  he  had  been  enjoying,  and  as  the 
day  wore  painfully  on  he  began  to  realize  how  much 
she  had  become  to  him.  He  was  haunted  by  misgiv 
ings,  and  finally,  late  in  the  afternoon,  having  convinced 
himself  that  he  had  exhausted  the  resources  of  the  gar 
den,  he  decided  to  pass  the  time  until  the  dinner  hour 
upon  the  veranda  on  the  other  side  of  the  house. 
Thither  he  repaired,  but  oddly  enough  and  greatly  to 
his  astonishment,  as  he  stepped  out  upon  the  veranda, 
he  came  face  to  face  with  Miss  Van  Ashton  returning 
from  a  walk  in  the  town.  She  was  charmingly  gowned 
in  a  soft,  clinging  creation  of  pale  lavender  and  white 
lace,  with  long  white  suede  gloves  and  low  lavender 
shoes  and  silk  stockings,  an  inch  or  so  of  which  she 
flashed  before  his  eyes,  proclaiming  the  society  belle's 
prerogative.  She  carried  a  parasol  of  the  same  color 
and  material  as  her  dress,  while  her  head  was  crowned 
with  a  sweeping,  rakishly  plumed  Rembrandtesque  hat 
worn  at  a  killing  angle.  The  gold  in  her  hair  and  the 
exquisite  pink  and  white  of  her  throat  and  cheeks 
blended  perfectly  with  a  color  scheme,  the  attractiveness 
of  which  was  greatly  enhanced  by  her  natural  charm 


WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE  215 

and  the  delicate  scent  of  lavender  and  rose  leaves  which 
emanated  from  her  person,  the  combined  effects  of 
which  were  not  lost  upon  an  over-wrought  imagina 
tion. 

To  use  the  current  vernacular  of  the  times,  so  famil 
iar  to  the  world  in  which  she  moved,  Miss  Van  Ashton's 
appearance  was  decidedly  fetching,  and  strongly  sug 
gestive  of  the  things  of  which  poets,  in  their  madness, 
are  continually  harping — flower  gardens  flooded  with 
moonlight  and  the  song  of  nightingales.  Although  not 
modeled  on  heroic  lines,  she  nevertheless  possessed  the 
qualifications  which  most  men  seek  in  women  and  there 
fore  became  quite  as  formidable  as  Delilah  when  she 
chose  to  assert  herself.  To  say  that  Mr.  Yankton  was 
dazzled  but  mildly  expresses  his  feelings ;  he  was  rav 
ished,  though  in  no  mood  for  banter.  Had  their  meet 
ing  occurred  under  more  auspicious  circumstances,  he 
undoubtedly  would  have  complimented  her  on  her  charm 
ing  appearance ;  but  for  one  who  had  been  eating  his 
heart  out  during  eight  consecutive  hours  solely  on  her 
account,  it  was  hardly  to  be  expected.  The  sight  of 
her,  though  a  relief  to  his  mind,  gave  rise  to  thoughts 
the  nature  of  which  he  found  it  difficult  to  conceal. 

"  What !  "  he  cried,  furious  and  aghast,  scarcely 
believing  his  eyes  as  the  truth  slowly  began  to  dawn 
upon  him.  "  They  told  me  you  were  ill  —  that  you 
couldn't  appear  to-day  !  " 

"111?  How  very  strange!"  she  answered  in  feigned 
surprise,  with  a  far  away,  vacant  look  in  her  eyes,  as 
though  she  had  just  met  him  for  the  first  time,  render 
ing  him  quite  speechless.  "  Really,  Mr.  Yankton,"  she 


216          WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE 

continued  in  the  coldest,  most  distant  manner  she  could 
command,  "  I  never  felt  better  in  my  life ! "  And 
without  allowing  him  time  to  catch  his  breath,  she 
passed  by  him  and  slammed  the  door  in  his  face,  from 
the  other  side  of  which  he  fancied  he  heard  her  silvery, 
rippling  laughter,  the  nature  of  which  sounded  sus 
piciously  like  a  titter. 

Woman  never  delivered  a  more  crushing  blow.  In 
that  instant  Mr.  Yankton  saw  more  stars  than  the 
firmament  contains.  It  was  like  being  thrown  suddenly 
into  a  river  on  a  cold  morning.  Miss  Van  Ashton's 
methods  might  be  regarded  as  somewhat  harsh  by  cer 
tain  persons,  but  realizing  that  heroic  measures  were 
the  only  cure  for  the  dangerous  distemper  that  threat 
ened  her  peace  of  mind,  she  had  acted  without  hesitancy. 
Besides,  was  she  not  in  a  measure  justified  in  wishing 
to  even  up  their  scores  ? 

Oh,  the  fickleness  of  woman !  How  cleverly  she  had 
deceived  him,  and  what  an  ass  he  had  been !  She  had 
been  playing  with  him  all  the  while,  and  as  he  paced 
the  floor,  revolving  what  course  to  pursue,  he  wondered 
how  he  could  have  been  so  simple.  True,  she  was  dif 
ferent  from  any  woman  he  had  ever  met,  but  dazed 
though  he  was  by  her  sudden  change  of  front,  he  was 
not  disheartened.  On  the  contrary,  she  had  become 
more  attractive  than  ever.  His  blood  fairly  boiled  at 
the  thought  of  his  defeat,  but  he  would  profit  by  the 
experience  —  change  his  tactics  completely.  The 
more  she  avoided  him,  the  more  persistent  he  would  be 
come.  If  she  did  not  see  him,  she  would  be  kept  a  pris 
oner  in  the  house.  He  would  give  her  no  peace,  day 


WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE  217 

or  night.  He  would  dog  her  footsteps,  confront  her 
at  every  turn,  pursue  her  with  the  most  reckless  and 
relentless  ardor  and  utter  disregard  of  what  the  world 
might  think;  treat  her  as  he  would  an  unbroken  horse 
—  give  her  no  rest,  but  keep  her  on  the  jump  until 
he  had  worn  her  out,  and  then  close  with  her. 


XXII 

rilHE  situation  was  becoming  intolerable.  Some- 
*•  thing  must  be  done  and  done  at  once  to  clear  the 
atmosphere.  Captain  Forest's  apparent  indifference  to 
all  things,  including  herself,  aroused  Blanch  to  a  pitch 
of  exasperation  which  might  best  be  likened  to  that  of 
a  high-strung,  thoroughbred  horse  that  has  been  igno- 
miniously  hitched  to  a  plow  and  compelled  to  drag  it. 
At  the  end  of  a  week  he  either  drops  dead  in  the  fur 
row  or  becomes  a  broken-spirited  hack  for  the  rest  of 
his  days. 

Nothing  short  of  love  or  hatred  could  satisfy  her. 
It  was  a  new  experience.  Never  had  she  suffered  such 
ignominy.  It  was  like  being  coerced.  One  could  re 
spect  an  enemy,  but  this  exasperating  indifference  was 
unendurable.  The  more  she  thought  of  it,  the  more  con 
vinced  she  became,  that  it  was  just  such  an  antago 
nistic  attitude  which  had  prompted  the  beautiful,  though 
wicked  Borgia,  to  administer  certain  love  potions  to 
numerous  unappreciative  gallants.  Deliberate,  cold 
blooded  murder  committed  under  such  extenuating  cir 
cumstances  began  to  appear  more  in  the  light  of  justice 
than  of  crime. 

Captain  Forest  offered  an  entirely  new  front.  Not 
that  he  had  changed  so  much,  she  knew  better  than 
that,  but  she  marveled  at  his  self-control.  The  dash 

218 


WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE  219 

and  spirit  of  the  soldier,  which  every  one  admired  so 
much  in  him,  had  given  way  to  the  most  insulting,  good- 
humored  complacency;  the  frame  of  mind  one  looks  for 
in  an  aged  sinner  whose  terror  of  an  uncertain  future 
has  driven  him  to  prepare  for  heaven.  She  knew  well 
enough  that  his  attitude  .was  assumed  for  a  purpose 
only,  until  he  had  made  up  his  mind  what  to  do;  wait 
ing  to  make  up  his  mind  as  to  which  of  them,  she  or 
Chiquita,  was  preferable.  This,  of  course,  was  merely 
a  jealous  supposition  on  her  part. 

She  had  hoped  to  arouse  his  jealousy,  or,  failing  in 
that,  at  least  his  enthusiasm.  Thus  far  she  had  failed 
to  accomplish  either  and  she  could  not  understand  it. 
Surely  he  was  flesh  and  blood  like  other  men,  yet  noth 
ing  seemed  to  move  him.  He  appeared  like  one  at 
peace  with  all  the  world,  calm  and  serene  as  a  summer's 
day,  and  smoked  incessantly.  She  could  endure  it  no 
longer.  The  depression  from  which  she  suffered  was 
crushing  her  slowly  and  irresistibly  to  earth.  She  was 
at  her  wits'  end  to  know  what  to  do  to  relieve  the  ten 
sion,  until  she  finally  hit  upon  the  idea  of  giving  an 
old-fashioned  Spanish  fandango  —  a  fiesta. 

The  thought  was  a  happy  one.  It  was  not  only  one 
of  those  things  she  had  always  wanted  to  see,  but  it 
would  be  a  break  —  something  to  relieve  the  strain  of 
her  daily  existence;  she  pursuing,  he  avoiding  her. 
The  novelty  of  the  scene  —  the  bright,  gay  costumes  of 
the  Mexicans,  music  and  twinkling  lights,  dancing  and 
wine  and  laughter  and  song,  and  the  stars  overhead, 
mellowed  by  the  light  of  the  full  moon,  must  infuse 
new  life  into  them  all  —  recall  memories  of  other  days 


220  WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE 

to  him.  With  such  a  setting,  a  woman  of  her  beauty, 
refinement  and  attraction,  and  an  adept  at  the  game  of 
flattery  and  intrigue,  must  shine  with  new  luster  — 
become  doubly  dangerous  and  irresistible  to  a  man. 
Though  this  was  her  chief  motive  for  giving  the  fiesta, 
she  had  still  another  in  view. . 

The  fame  of  Chiquita's  dancing  had  naturally  aroused 
her  curiosity.  She  would  ask  her  to  dance;  not  that 
she  believed  the  half  of  what  she  heard  concerning  it, 
but  it  would  be  a  satisfaction  to  see  it.  Besides,  she  had 
a  certain  motive  of  her  own  for  so  doing  which  she 
imparted  to  no  one ;  the  subtlest  of  a  woman's  thoughts 
which  only  the  intuition  of  a  woman  could  have 
prompted.  She  laughed  to  herself  at  the  thought 
which  invariably  aroused  within  her  a  feeling  akin  to 
triumph.  Why  had  she  not  thought  of  it  before? 
She  knew  the  Captain  had*  already  seen  her  dance,  but 
then  that  was  before  he  knew  who  she  was.  It  had 
been  in  a  theater,  and  his  enthusiasm  must  have  been 
prompted  in  a  measure  by  that  of  the  audience  about 
him.  The  emotion  of  a  large  assembly  was  always  con 
tagious  —  sweeping  the  individual  along  with  it. 
Whereas,  in  private,  her  dancing,  lacking  the  glamour 
and  artificiality  of  the  stage,  would  be  a  very  different 
thing.  It  would  appear  in  a  more  realistic,  common 
place  light.  Any  faults  which  the  atmosphere  of  the 
stage  might  have  concealed  would  immediately  become 
apparent  in  the  light  of  natural  surroundings  and  her 
performance  sink  to  the  level  of  the  commonplace. 

Her  dancing  could  only  be  amateurish  at  its  best,  for 
where  could  she  possibly  have  learned  to  dance? 


WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE          221 

What  instruction  could  she,  living  in  this  out-of-the- 
way  corner  of  the  world,  have  received  in  the  art? 
As  for  local  enthusiasm,  it  counted  for  little  —  ama 
teurs  were  always  so  popular  at  home.  And  after  all 
was  said,  what  did  the  achievements  of  the  great  dancers 
really  amount  to?  Their  creations  were  not  ranked 
with  those  of  other  artistic  achievements.  In  fact, 
dancing  could  scarcely  be  ranked  with  the  legitimate 
branches  of  art  at  all.  At  its  best,  it  was  only  a  pas 
time;  something  to  amuse.  This,  of  course,  was  the 
light  in  which  she  viewed  one  of  the  greatest  arts 
which  few  ever  succeed  in  mastering.  Possibly  because 
the  world  has  really  seen  no  dancing  to  speak  of  since 
the  days  of  the  great  Taglioni,  until  the  Pavlowa  ap 
peared.  Even  parts  of  the  latter's  art  were  question 
able,  but  then,  she  was  the  Pavlowa! 

Chiquita's  dancing  differed  from  anything  Captain 
Forest  had  ever  seen.  As  a  matter  of  fact,  much  of 
it  would  not  have  been  called  dancing  at  all  by  many 
people,  so  different  has  the  modern  conception  of  the 
art  become  since  the  days  of  the  ancients.  But  where 
had  she  received  her  instruction?  The  ability  to 
dance,  like  any  other  talent,  is  born  in  one,  not  acquired. 
True,  it  must  be  developed  through  constant  prac 
tice  just  like  any  other  talent,  if  ever  it  is  to  amount 
to  anything;  but  even  then,  great  dancers  are  born 
just  as  great  painters,  poets  and  musicians  are  born. 

The  Indian's  greatest  pastime  and  amusement  is 
dancing,  and  Chiquita  had  danced  almost  daily  from 
earliest  childhood  to  her  sixteenth  year  when  fate  had 
led  her  to  Padre  Antonio's  door.  Then  she  went  to 


222  WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE 

the  City  of  Mexico  and  also  had  visited  Europe.  In 
both  places  she  had  had  the  opportunity  of  seeing  some 
of  the  greatest  dancers  of  the  day  and  was  able  to  draw 
comparisons  between  their  conceptions  of  the  art  and 
hers.  But  when  she  began  the  study  of  ancient  history 
her  attention  was  called  to  the  Greeks'  conception  of 
the  art,  and  she  soon  discovered  that  modern  dancing 
was  a  direct  violation  of  that  which  was  most  plastic 
in  art,  and  consisted  chiefly  of  contortions,  high  kick 
ing  and  pirouetting  on  the  toes.  She  also  discovered 
that  the  conceptions  of  her  own  people  regarding  the 
art  stood  nearer  that  of  the  ancients  than  did  modern 
man's.  To  her  it  was  an  interesting  discovery.  It  was 
as  natural  for  her  to  dance  as  to  breathe,  and  from 
that  hour  she  began  to  study  and  practice  the  art  with 
renewed  interest. 

Shortly  after  her  admittance  to  the  convent,  it  was 
also  discovered  that  she  possessed  a  voice  of  unusual 
quality  and  range ;  and,  as  Padre  Antonio  had  in 
structed  the  Sisters  to  do  their  utmost  to  develop  any 
natural  talent  she  might  possess  to  a  marked  degree, 
the  best  teacher  in  voice  culture  which  the  city  afforded 
was  procured  for  her.  These  were  Padre  Antonio's 
wishes  and  they  had  been  obeyed  conscientiously  by 
the  Sisters  who  recognized  Chiquita's  strong  dramatic 
ability. 

The  years  passed,  and,  as  the  day  finally  arrived  on 
which  she  was  to  leave  school,  the  performances  which 
marked  the  closing  exercises  were  given  as  usual  by  the 
pupils.  The  last  number  on  the  programme  represented 
an  ancient  Greek  festival  arranged  by  Padre  Alesandro, 


WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE 

the  instructor  in  classic  literature,  in  which  Chiquita 
took  the  leading  part,  and  in  which,  at  her  request, 
she  was  permitted  to  introduce  a  dance  of  her  own  crea 
tion.  Among  the  many  guests  that  had  been  invited 
to  attend  the  closing  ceremonies  was  one  Signor  Tosti, 
a  ballet-master,  who  at  the  time  was  visiting  the  Capitol 
with  an  Italian  opera  company.  A  friend  whose  daugh 
ter  took  part  in  the  exercises  had  persuaded  him,  much 
against  his  will,  to  attend;  for  what  possible  interest 
could  a  veteran  of  the  ballet  take  in  such  amateurish 
exhibitions  ? 

Touring  the  world  with  a  troup  of  quarrelsome  artists 
was  arduous  work  for  a  tired  old  gentleman  at  its  best. 
So,  like  the  sensible  man  that  he  was,  he  promptly 
went  to  sleep  at  the  opening  of  the  performance  and 
probably  would  have  slept  through  the  entire  evening, 
had  he  not  been  aroused  from  his  slumbers  in  the 
midst  of  the  last  number  on  the  programme  by  the  sound 
of  a  glorious  voice  —  a  deep  mezzo-soprano  of  the  rich 
est  contralto  quality.  Opening  his  eyes,  he  saw  an 
assembly  of  beautifully  clad,  flower-bedecked  Grecian 
youths  and  maidens  drawn  up  across  the  back  of  the 
stage,  chanting  the  chorus,  and  in  their  midst,  in  the 
foreground,  one  of  the  most  beautiful  women  he  had 
ever  seen.  He  drew  himself  up  with  a  start  and  rubbed 
his  eyes  to  assure  himself  that  he  was  really  awake. 
And  then,  considering  the  occasion  and  the  time  and 
the  place,  he  witnessed  a  performance  that  fairly  took 
his  breath  away. 

His  Southern  temperament  became  thoroughly 
aroused,  and  at  the  conclusion  of  the  dance,  he  sud- 


224  WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE 

denly  rose  from  his  seat  and  without  waiting  for  an 
introduction,  rushed  to  the  stage  and  springing  upon 
it,  bowed  low  before  Chiquita  and  seizing  her  hand, 
kissed  it  in  view  of  the  audience.  No  one  knew  better 
than  he  did  that,  in  his  profession,  a  new  star  had 
just  fallen  from  heaven  to  earth.  The  following  day 
he  and  the  director  of  his  company  waited  upon  Chi 
quita  and  offered  her  any  sum  she  might  choose  to 
name  if  she  would  consent  to  join  the  company  and 
return  to  Europe  with  them.  But  they  did  not  know 
what  Chiquita's  past  had  been  —  that  she  was  still  the 
Amazon  as  of  old  —  that  the  woman  who  had  been 
trained  to  battle  in  her  early  youth  the  same  as  the 
men  of  her  people  had  been  trained,  regarded  as  mere 
pastime  that  which  they  considered  one  of  the  heights 
of  earthly  attainment.  The  woman  who  at  sunrise  had 
listened  daily  to  the  song  of  the  Memnon,  who  had  ex 
perienced  the  shock  of  battle,  whose  life  lived  close  to 
nature  had  taught  her  the  meaning  of  the  ethics  of  the 
dust  and  instilled  into  her  veins  the  rippling  laughter  of 
water  and  sunshine  and  the  song  of  the  winds,  and  whose 
every  breath  had  been  the  rapturous  breath  of  freedom, 
viewed  life  from  a  different  standpoint  than  that  of  men 
debased  by  centuries  of  servitude.  The  world  of  their 
creation  was  trifling  in  comparison  to  that  of  God's 
which  to  her  was  all  sufficing  and  enabled  her  to  look 
upon  their  doings  with  the  same  equanimity  and  in 
dulgence  as  that  with  which  the  parent  regards  the 
frolicsome  gambols  of  the  child. 

Twenty  years  of  almost  uninterrupted  practice  had 
kept  her  body  and  limbs  supple  and  pliant,  but  this 
Blanch  did  not  know. 


XXIII 

r  I  TRUE  to  his  resolve,  Dick  rose  to  the  exigency  of 
•»•  the  occasion  by  laying  stubborn  siege  to  Miss  Van 
Ashton's  heart.  During  the  day  he  bombarded  her 
with  flowers  and  books  and  bonbons,  and  gentle  but  pas 
sionate  missives ;  all  of  which  the  fair  recipient  as 
promptly  hurled  back  into  his  face.  At  night  relays 
of  musicians  serenaded  her  uninterruptedly  until  the 
glowing  east  announced  the  coming  of  a  new  day.  He 
took  the  whole  household  into  his  confidence,  rendering 
it  impossible  for  her  to  set  foot  outside  her  door  with 
out  meeting  him. 

The  first  day  she  laughed  at  his  eccentricities;  on 
the  second,  she  grew  furious,  and  on  the  third,  not  hav 
ing  closed  her  eyes  for  two  whole  days  and  nights, 
she  felt  herself  on  the  verge  of  a  nervous  collapse. 
There  being  no  rest  for  any  one,  Colonel  Van  Ashton 
suddenly  appeared  before  his  daughter  on  the  morning 
of  the  fourth  day  and  gave  her  to  understand  that  if 
the  infernal  nuisance  did  not  cease  instantly  he  would 
shoot  the  first  person  who  entered  the  garden  that  even 
ing  after  he  had  retired.  And  to  back  his  threat,  he 
displayed  a  new  automatic  pistol  which  he  had  purchased 
in  the  town  the  day  before;  the  shopkeeper  having  as 
sured  him  that,  for  a  running  fire,  it  was  the  most  con 
venient  and  effective  weapon  on  the  market.  The 

225 


226  WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE 

Colonel  was  in  a  reckless  mood  and  seemed  in  imminent 
danger  of  losing  in  a  moment  the  self-control  which 
years  of  civilization  had  instilled  within  him.  Having 
been  literally  goaded  to  madness,  little  wonder  that  he 
too  was  on  the  verge  of  succumbing  to  the  customs  of 
the  land,  and  was  beginning  to  feel  a  secret  longing 
to  shoot  and  swear  and  swagger  and  destroy.  Know 
ing  her  father  to  be  as  good  as  his  word,  and  to  pos 
sess  the  courage  of  a  lion  when  aroused,  Bessie  found 
herself  forced  to  capitulate  a  day  earlier  than  she  other 
wise  would  have,  for,  incensed  though  she  was,  not  even 
a  woman  of  her  grit  and  spirit  could  possibly  have 
held  out  much  longer  under  conditions  that  turned  night 
into  day. 

It  was  galling  in  the  extreme  to  be  compelled  to  sur 
render  so  soon,  but  there  being  no  alternative,  she  was 
obliged  to  accept  the  humiliation  with  the  best  grace 
possible.  Accordingly,  she  appeared  in  the  garden  late 
on  the  afternoon  of  the  fourth  day  where  she  espied 
the  object  of  her  wrath  and  annoyance  seated  com 
fortably  on  the  grass  at  the  foot  of  a  pear  tree,  and 
as  usual  —  smoking.  The  sight  of  him  was  hardly 
conducive  to  soothe  the  feelings  of  one  who  inwardly  was 
a  seething  volcano,  and  she  vowed  that  she  would  pay 
him  out  to  the  full  before  she  was  done  with  him. 

He  seemed  greatly  surprised  by  her  appearance,  and 
hastily  throwing  away  his  cigar,  rose  to  his  feet  with 
the  intention  of  speaking  to  her,  but  without  noticing 
him,  she  made  her  way  to  the  farthest  corner  of  the 
garden  and  seated  herself  in  a  large  rustic  chair  that 


WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE  227 

stood  in  the  shadow  of  the  high  wall  which  surrounded 
the  garden.  She  knew  he  would  not  be  long  in  renew 
ing  his  persecutions.  And  angry  though  she  was,  she 
could  not  help  wondering  at  the  novelty  of  the  situa 
tion.  She,  Bessie  Van  Ashton,  placed  at  the  mercy  of 
an  obscure  person,  a  rustic  nobody !  Like  every  other 
woman,  she  had  dreamed  of  such  a  man  as  this,  one 
that  would  seize  and  carry  her  off;  but  then  the  time 
and  place  were  other  than  the  present,  and  he  re 
sembled  more  closely  the  type  of  man  with  which  she  had 
been  familiar  all  her  life.  The  spirit  of  antagonism 
which  he  aroused  was  due  rather  to  pique  than  to  dis 
like,  for  in  spite  of  his  audacity  she  could  not  help 
admiring  his  spirit. 

Her  sense  of  injury  was  poignantly  enhanced  by  the 
fact  that  she  recognized  herself  to  be  the  true  cause 
of  her  trouble.  Had  she  not  led  him  on  this  thing 
might  never  have  happened;  and  yet,  she  was  neither 
sorry  nor  repentant  for  what  she  had  done.  Had  any 
other  man  dared  take  the  liberties  he  had  taken  with 
her,  she  would  have  despised  him,  but  with  him,  though 
she  was  unable  to  explain  it,  things  were  somehow  dif 
ferent.  She  was  furious  with  him  for  kissing  her,  and 
yet  deep  down  in  her  inner  consciousness  she  was  not 
so  certain  that  she  was  sorry  he  had  done  so.  The 
things  he  did,  which  would  have  branded  any  other  man 
as  a  cad,  were  the  very  things  the  man  of  her  dreams 
might  have  done  under  similar  circumstances.  Yet  she 
shuddered  as  she  daily  foresaw  the  consequences  that 
might  ensue  should  she  encourage  him  further.  Flirt- 


228  WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE 

ing  with  a  man  whose  high-handed,  arbitrary  methods 
dazed  rather  than  offended  her,  was  becoming  danger 
ous. 

Self-preservation  being  always  our  first  thought,  she 
had  decided  to  fly,  but  the  presence  of  Blanch  rendered 
such  a  course  impossible.  The  only  alternative  left 
her  was  to  extricate  herself  as  swiftly  and  gracefully 
as  possible  from  her  dilemma  by  making  herself  as  dis 
agreeable  as  possible  in  his  eyes.  In  this  wise  she 
hoped  to  disillusion  him,  and  it  was  with  this  intention 
she  had  come  forth  to  meet  him.  She  could  not  see 
him  from  where  she  sat,  having  turned  her  back  upon 
him;  but,  judging  from  the  length  of  time  it  took  him 
to  approach,  she  rightly  conjectured  that  he  had  been 
walking  in  a  circle,  doubtless  at  a  loss  what  course  to 
pursue.  The  silence  that  ensued  when  he  paused  behind 
her  was  broken  only  by  the  sound  of  his  labored  breath 
ing  and  a  nervous  cough,  plainly  betraying  the  em 
barrassment  he  felt  on  finding  himself  once  more  in 
her  presence. 

"  Miss  Van  Ashton,"  he  said  at  length,  "  it  is  ex 
tremely  gratifying  to  know  that  you  have  at  last  de 
cided  to  leave  the  oppressive  walls  of  your  inhospitable 
abode  for  the  world  of  sunshine  without,  where  the  es 
sence  and  being  of  all  things  fill  one  with  a  desire  to 
live."  Nothing  he  could  have  said  at  the  moment  could 
have  aroused  her  resentment  more  than  this  idiotic 
speech.  She  had  expected  him  to  eat  humble  pie,  to 
throw  himself  at  her  feet  and  implore  forgiveness ;  but, 
no !  She  sprang  to  her  feet  and  facing  him,  turned 
a  pair  of  beautiful  blazing  eyes  upon  him.  She  was 


WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE  229 

so  furious  she  choked,  and  for  some  moments  was  quite 
unable  to  speak. 

"  I  suppose,"  she  said  at  last,  her  voice  trembling 
with  suppressed  indignation,  "  that  you  take  pleasure 
in  pursuing  a  helpless  woman  like  a  hunted  beast.  It's 
so  manly,"  she  added  scathingly,  looking  in  vain  for 
some  sign  of  contrition  in  his  face.  "  Why,"  she  went 
on,  "  if  a  man  where  I  live  had  done  the  hundredth  part 
of  what  you  have  done,  society  would  shun  him  as  it 
would  a  pariah !  " 

"  Or  a  leper,"  he  added  good  humoredly,  quick  to 
recognize  the  disadvantage  at  which  the  loss  of  her 
temper  placed  her.  "  They  must  be  a  poor  lot  where 
you  live,"  he  continued.  "  I  think  we  had  better  pass 
them  by  without  further  comment."  She  was  suffocated 
—  she  could  have  bitten  her  tongue  off ! 

"  Have  you  no  consideration  for  others'  feelings  — 
for  what  they  might  want  ?  "  she  cried. 

"  Ah !  I  see,  Miss  Van  Ashton,"  he  answered,  re 
garding  her  compassionately.  "  You  quite  overlook  the 
true  facts  of  the  case.  This  is  not  at  all  a  question  of 
what  you  may  want,  but  of  what  is  best  for  you.  I 
have  merely  been  trying  to  tell  you  in  my  awkward 
way  that  it  is  not  good  for  one  to  live  alone."  She 
laughed  hysterically.  The  colossal  impudence  of  the 
man  took  her  breath  away.  She  gasped  —  attempted 
to  speak,  but  words  failing  her,  turned  her  back  upon 
him  and  began  tearing  into  shreds  the  end  of  the 
silken  gauze  Indian  scarf  which  she  wore  over  her  shoul 
ders. 

"  Can't  you  think  of  what  you  want,  Miss  Van  Ash- 


230  WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE 

ton?  "  he  asked  gently,  in  the  tone  of  one  addressing  a 
refractory  child. 

"  No !  "  she  screamed,  without  at  all  realizing  what 
she  was  saying.  To  think  that  this  man  was  able  to 
play  with  her  like  a  worm  on  the  end  of  a  pin !  It 
was  too  much !  "  How  dare  you !  I  —  I  hate  you !  " 
she  cried,  without  turning  round  and  quite  beside  her 
self.  There  was  no  mistaking  her  attitude;  he  had 
gone  far  enough.  The  limit  of  her  endurance  had  been 
reached,  and  he  suddenly  became  serious.  Again  there 
was  silence  between  them. 

"  Miss  Van  Ashton,"  he  said,  drawing  himself  up, 
"  it  really  doesn't  matter  what  you  or  the  rest  of  the 
world  may  think  of  me  so  long  as  I  can  see  you.  Can 
you  imagine  what  it  would  be  like  if  you  were  never  to 
see  the  sun  again?  What  could  be  more  absurd  than 
to  allow  such  a  trifle  as  convention  to  come  between 
you  and  me?  Three  feet  of  wretched  adobe  wall  be 
tween  me  and  heaven !  "  he  burst  forth.  "  The  idea's 
preposterous !  Why,  if  you  shut  yourself  up  in  that 
miserable  hovel  again,  I'll  set  fire  to  the  place !  "  She 
knew  he  would. 

"  Can't  you  understand,"  he  went  on,  his  voice 
softening,  "  that  your  attitude  has  aroused  the  savage, 
the  primeval  man  in  me  —  that,  had  I  met  you  here 
fifty  or  a  hundred  years  ago,  I  would  have  picked  you 
up  and  quietly  carried  you  away?  I  know  I've  been  a 
brute  by  driving  you  into  the  open  like  this,  but  that's 
not  me,  myself  —  the  man  who  loves  you,  who  would 
pass  through  fire  for  you,  who  has  dreamed  of  you  and 
watched  and  waited  through  the  long  years  for  your 


WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE  231 

coming;  and  now  that  you  have  come,  you  surely  can't 
blame  me  for  what  I  cannot  help  —  for  loving  you  and 
telling  you  so  in  my  own  way  ?  " 

She  tried  in  vain  to  stifle  the  emotion  his  words 
aroused.  She  had  set  out  with  the  intention  of  wring 
ing  this  avowal  from  him  in  jest,  but  how  differently 
it  affected  her  now  that  she  heard  it.  She  forgot  her 
anger,  everything,  in  fact,  as  she  listened  to  the  flow 
of  his  passion  and  longed  to  hear  him  continue.  Every 
note  of  his  voice  thrilled  her  as  it  did  on  the  day  she 
first  saw  him.  She  remembered  that  she  experienced  a 
peculiar  sensation  at  the  time ;  that  his  appearance  re 
minded  her  of  the  heroic  type  of  manhood  which  the 
ancients  had  sought  to  depict  in  their  marbles.  In  him 
she  had  unconsciously  recognized  the  true  spirit  of  the 
Argonaut  on  whose  brow  rests  the  star  of  empire.  She 
did  not  idealize  him ;  she  simply  recognized  him  for  what 
he  was  —  a  man ;  one  in  whose  soul  the  sentiment  and 
enthusiasm  of  youth  still  sat  enthroned,  not  smothered 
by  the  crushing  process  of  modern  civilization  which  was 
the  case  with  the  men  she  knew.  A  terror  seized  her 
as  she  compared  the  latter  to  him,  and  beheld  how  small 
they  appeared  beside  him. 

"  Miss  Van  Ashton,"  he  continued  passionately, 
"  you  wouldn't  thank  me  if  I  continued  to  bandy  words 
with  the  woman  I  love,  whose  presence  has  become  the 
sunshine  of  life  to  me.  The  whole  world  has  become 
filled  with  song  since  you  came  into  my  life.  Music 
and  laughter  have  taken  the  place  of  loneliness  and  de 
spair.  Flowers  spring  from  the  earth  where  your  feet 
rest!  Don't  imagine  that  you  can  ever  estrange  your- 


WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE 

self  from  me.  Wherever  you  are,  by  day  or  by  night, 
waking  or  dreaming,  I  also  will  be  there  and  ever  whis 
pering  :  "  Bessie  Van  Ashton,  I  love  you  —  you  have 
filled  my  life  so  completely  I  can't  live  without  you !  " 

Had  her  face  been  turned  toward  him,  he  would  have 
seen  that  it  was  radiant,  that  her  eyes  shone  with  un 
usual  brilliancy,  that  her  hands  trembled  beneath  the 
folds  of  her  scarf  where  she  had  concealed  them. 

"  Bessie,  sweet  — ; 

"  Stop ! "  she  cried,  almost  in  a  voice  of  terror. 
"  I've  not  given  you  permission  to  speak  to  me,  thus  — 
to  call  me  by  name  — 

"  Then  turn  round  and  say  you  will  be  human  once 
more !  That  you  will  talk  and  walk  and  ride  again ! 
If  you  don't,  I'll  begin  all  over  again  by  telling  you 
that  you  are  the  sweetest  — 

"  Hush !  "  she  said  softly,  turning  round  abruptly 
with  a  gesture  of  protest,  looking  up  into  his  face,  and 
then  down  at  the  ground  to  conceal  her  confusion.  "  I 
think  we  understand  one  another,"  she  said  at  length, 
and  raising  her  eyes  to  his  again,  she  held  out  both  her 
hands  which  he  seized  and  held  in  his  own. 

"  Let  us  be  friends  again,"  she  continued,  gently 
withdrawing  her  hands  from  his. 

"  No,  don't  say  that !  "  he  interrupted.  "  We  can't 
be  that !  Let  it  rest  as  it  is  !  " 


XXIV 

f  *T  7L  7HEN  you  love,  you  love,"  runs  a  gypsy  prov- 
»  V  erb. 

Bessie  wore  the  despairing  look  of  one  who  clings  to 
a  last  vain  hope.  How  had  it  happened?  Why  had 
everything  gone  contrary  to  her  expectations?  Why 
was  Mr.  Yankton  dragging  her  at  the  wheels  of  his 
chariot  instead  of  she  him?  According  to  her  social 
standards  he  had  seen  but  little,  and  yet  he  had  the 
savolr  faire  of  a  man  of  the  world.  Her  preconceived 
ideas  on  certain  subjects  were  so  upset  that  she  no  longer 
appeared  to  have  a  hold  on  anything;  the  very  ground 
seemed  to  be  slipping  away  beneath  her. 

Strange  that  one  could  care  for  the  person  whom 
one  least  expected  to,  that  the  most  humiliating  moment 
in  one's  life  might  be  the  happiest  as  well.  If  any  one 
had  suggested  such  a  possibility  to  her  six  months  pre 
viously,  she  would  have  laughed  at  the  mere  thought. 
How  could  she  relinquish  the  life  she  knew  for  his? 
She  fought  against  his  influence  with  all  her  powers  of 
resistance.  And  yet,  what  woman  in  her  right  mind 
would  hesitate  to  follow  the  man  of  her  choice  to  the 
sunlit  valleys  of  our  dreams?  Weaker  women  than  she 
had  done  so  and  been  happy,  while  stronger  ones  had 
hesitated,  as  was  the  case  with  Blanch,  and  lived  to  re 
gret  it.  She  secretly  prayed  that  she  might  be  spared 

233 


234  WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE 

the  torture  which  Blanch  was  suffering  and  the  despair 
which  must  inevitably  overtake  her  should  she  fail  to 
win  back  the  man  she  had  let  slip  from  her;  for  what, 
after  all,  could  life  be  to  one  without  the  true  comrade 
ship  of  love?  She  began  to  feel  and  realize  the  ineffable 
sweetness  of  life's  fullness  as  the  days  of  her  awakening 
continued,  while  the  ache  at  her  heart  told  her  plainly 
enough  that  the  decisive  moment  of  her  life  had  arrived 
—  that  she  must  choose  between  happiness  and  ambi 
tion.  The  one,  rich  and  full  though  accompanied  per 
haps  by  pain  and  even  denial  at  times ;  the  other  fraught 
with  uncertainty. 

She  understood  now  the  meaning  of  Chiquita's  pas 
sionate  longing  for  the  man  she  loved;  a  thing  which  the 
worldliness  of  the  life  she  had  lived  hitherto  had  taught 
her  to  be  too  extravagant  to  exist  anywhere  outside  of 
books,  but  which  was  true  nevertheless.  Her  intuition 
told  her  this  in  the  face  of  all  the  world  might  say  to 
the  contrary.  As  she  looked  back  over  the  years  and 
thought  of  her  friends,  she  realized  that  she  like  them 
had  submerged  her  life  in  the  superficial  pleasures  of  the 
world;  but  had  they  filled  her  cup  of  happiness?  Until 
now  she  had  not  felt  the  lack  of  life's  crowning  joy, 
for  the  reason  that  youth  is  buoyant  and  full  of  hope, 
and  the  grand  passion  had  not  yet  entered  into  her  life. 
These  and  a  thousand  other  thoughts  ran  through  her 
mind  that  night  as  she  recalled  Dick's  words. 

She  could  not  sleep.  From  where  she  lay  she  could 
see  the  moonlight  in  the  patio  and  hear  the  murmur  of 
the  fountain  in  its  center.  The  night  seemed  to  beckon 
and  whisper  to  her  to  come  outside.  So  she  arose  and 


WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE          S35 

silently  dressed  herself  in  the  dimly  moonlit  room  with 
out  disturbing  Blanch,  who  murmured  incoherently  in 
her  sleep  of  the  things  she  was  thinking  of.  She  slipped 
noiselessly  through  the  low  window  to  the  patio  without 
and  stealthily  made  her  way  in  the  shadow  of  the  over 
hanging  arcades  to  the  garden  beyond. 

The  hour  was  late  —  close  on  to  dawn.  The  silvery 
half-moon  hung  low  in  the  west  accompanied  by  great 
cohorts  of  stars  that  shone  with  a  brilliancy  she  had 
never  before  seen,  and  which  seemed  to  be  waiting  with 
the  moon  to  usher  in  the  new  dawn.  All  was  silence  and 
mystery  —  all  earthly  ties  seemed  severed.  Under  the 
cover  of  the  night  all  things  seemed  equal.  There  were 
no  high,  no  low,  no  eyes  to  see,  no  ears  to  hear,  no 
towns,  no  cities,  no  conventions.  All  things  that  hold 
and  bind  us  had  slipped  away  into  the  shadows  and  she 
seemed  to  breathe  again  the  primeval  freshness  of  life. 

She  knew  that  she  must  decide  between  Dick  and  her 
family.  Her  father  had  given  her  plainly  to  under 
stand  as  much,  and  this  she  knew  meant  the  loss  of 
her  fortune  —  the  giving  up  of  all  for  him.  Her  father 
threatened,  raged  and  fumed  with  the  petulance  of  a 
spoiled  child,  his  paternal  displeasure  taking  that  un 
compromising  form  of  obstinacy  with  which  the  world 
has  long  been  familiar.  She  was  amazed  at  herself  for 
being  able  to  take  his  displeasure  with  so  little  con 
cern  ;  a  thing  which,  had  it  occurred  at  home,  would 
have  caused  her  to  pause  and  reflect  and  probably  would 
have  been  the  deciding  factor  in  her  life.  Her  removal 
from  the  old  life  and  the  glimpses  of  the  new  had  un 
consciously  wrought  a  change  within  her.  She  began  to 


236  WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE 

see  things  as  they  really  are  when  shorn  of  their 
glamour.  The  life  she  hitherto  had  known,  she  realized, 
was  purely  a  superficial  condition,  not  only  foreign  to 
the  realities  of  things,  but  superfluous  to  man  himself. 
Never  had  Captain  Forest  appeared  so  sane  and  her 
father  so  superficial  as  the  hour  in  which  she  grasped 
that  truth.  It  is  not  what  the  world  makes  of  you,  but 
what  you  make  of  yourself  that  counts,  the  beauteous, 
seductive  night  kept  whispering  to  her.  Why,  then,  if 
this  be  true,  should  the  world  about  her  appear  so 
remote  ?  It  was  not  the  actual  world  —  the  world  as 
it  really  is  that  she  would  be  called  upon  to  give  up, 
but  merely  the  world  of  that  particular  set  of  men  and 
women  in  which  she  hitherto  had  moved. 

The  same  earth  rolled  beneath  her  feet  —  the  same 
stars  that  looked  down  upon  her  in  the  past  still  glit 
tered  in  the  heavens  overhead  —  the  same  winds  that 
crept  through  the  garden  and  sighed  among  the  trees, 
wafting  the  spicy,  fragrant  odors  of  the  flowers  into 
her  face,  were  the  same  that  had  fanned  her  cheek  in 
the  past.  All  things  remained  practically  the  same, 
only  the  people  were  different.  But  could  the  old  in 
terests  and  friendships  and  associations  compensate  her 
for  the  loss  of  the  man  that  had  come  into  her  life 
to  remain  for  the  rest  of  her  days  whether  she  chose  to 
keep  him  or  not?  These  new  and  perplexing  questions 
she  was  forced  to  ask  herself  for  the  first  time,  and  she 
knew  that  there  could  be  but  one  answer  forthcoming. 

Love  was  knocking  at  the  portals  of  her  heart  as  it 
had  never  knocked  before.  It  had  come  to  her  warm 
and  living,  deep  and  subtle  and  indefinable,  leaving  noth- 


WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE  237 

ing  to  be  said  or  desired.  She  saw  clearly  that  prin 
ciple,  as  the  world  conceives  it,  was  not  involved.  Af 
fection  recognizes  no  such  principle  —  only  virtuous 
longing  and  desire  which  is  a  principle  in  itself  —  the 
fulfillment  of  creation's  grandest  purpose ;  and  it  rested 
with  her  to  accept  this  truth  or  pass  it  by. 

The  chill  of  the  early  morning  caused  her  to  draw 
her  wrap  more  closely  about  her  shoulders.  A  deep 
sigh  of  relief  escaped  her  as  she  glanced  upwards  once 
more  for  a  last  look  at  the  paling  stars.  How  satisfac 
tory  it  was  to  know  even  though  the  knowledge  pained 
her! 

She  had  entered  the  garden  a  girl,  she  returned  to 
the  house  a  woman,  hugging  her  secret  close  to  her 
heart. 


XXV 

SUCCESS  had  crowned  Juan  Ramon's  efforts.  The 
pretty  little  hacienda  of  which  he  had  dreamed  so 
long  was  no  longer  a  vision  of  the  future,  but  a  reality. 
It  was  actually  in  his  possession,  purchased  with  a  part 
of  the  money  he  had  received  from  Don  Felipe  for 
his  work.  It  now  only  remained  for  the  pretty  Rosita 
to  consent  to  become  the  mistress  of  the  place  and  he, 
Juan  Ramon,  would  bid  farewell  to  the  old  Posada  and 
the  gaming-tables  forever.  This  Juan  naively  prom 
ised  himself  as  his  thoughts  dwelt  upon  the  bright  pic 
ture  of  domestic  felicity  which  his  imagination  conjured 
up  before  him. 

The  attractive  presence  of  Rosita  was  undoubtedly 
the  source  of  this  inspiration  which  actually  led  him  to 
believe  in  the  possibility  of  the  sudden  and  complete  ref 
ormation  of  an  inveterate  gambler  whose  desire  for 
play  was  like  the  toper's  insatiable  thirst  for  liquor. 
And  then,  there  was  Captain  Forest's  horse.  Juan  had 
an  idea  regarding  that  animal.  When  everybody's  at 
tention  was  occupied  with  the  festivities  during  the  night 
of  the  fandango,  and  he  had  succeeded  in  filling  Jose 
with  the  proper  amount  of  aguardiente,  he  would  slip 
quietly  away  with  the  horse  and  conceal  him  at  his 
hacienda.  Caramba!  what  a  horse  —  the  like  of  which 
there  was  not  in  all  Mexico!  And  Juan  Ramon,  the 

238 


WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE          239 

champion  vaquero  of  Chihuahua,  was  the  man  to  ride 
him !  And  he  rolled  and  smoked  innumerable  cigar- 
illos  as  he  sauntered  about  the  garden  and  corrals,  or 
lounged  in  the  patio,  musing  on  these  and  many  other 
things. 

To  say  that  Don  Felipe  was  elated  by  what  he  had 
discovered  but  mildly  describes  his  state  of  exultation. 
At  last  the  woman  who  had  ruined  his  life  was  in  his 
power.  Not  for  years  had  he  experienced  such  delicious 
transports  of  rapture.  How  sweet  a  thing  is  revenge ! 
He  was  like  one  born  anew.  The  expression  of  melan 
choly  faded  from  his  countenance,  his  eyes  shone  with 
renewed  luster  and  he  smiled  upon  all  the  world.  There 
was  no  more  escape  for  her  than  there  had  been  for 
him  when  she  so  treacherously  thrust  the  knife  into  his 
heart.  What  he  had  discovered  was  different  from  any 
thing  his  imagination  had  pictured  in  connection  with 
her.  Nothing  could  be  more  compromising,  and  the 
marvel  of  it  was  that  she  had  been  able  to  keep  the 
facts  concealed  from  the  world  so  long.  Only  a  woman 
could  have  done  it,  and  only  the  cleverest  of  women  at 
that.  No  wonder  she  had  danced  in  public.  She  had 
reason  to ! 

Never  had  he  dreamed  that  he  would  live  to  enjoy 
this  hour.  When  he  first  imparted  his  information  to 
Blanch,  she  refused  to  believe  it;  but  the  proofs  were 
too  convincing  to  leave  so  much  as  the  shadow  of  a 
doubt  in  her  mind.  How  fortunate  that  he  had  discov 
ered  her  secret  at  this  time;  just  before  the  fandango. 
What  an  opportunity  to  confront  her  with  the  truth; 
force  her  to  make  a  public  confession  of  her  guilt. 


240  WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE 

Nothing  could  be  more  propitious  for  the  execution  of 
his  plans;  the  annihilation  of  the  woman  who  had 
wrecked  his  life.  It  was  not  enough  that  she  should 
be  exposed.  She  must  be  humiliated  publicly  as  he  had 
been. 

He  did  not  entirely  reveal  his  plans  to  Blanch,  know 
ing  that  the  woman  in  her  and  her  consideration  for 
the  Captain  would  cause  her  to  shrink  from  inflicting 
so  cruel  a  revenge  even  upon  a  rival.  He  was  far  too 
clever  for  that.  So,  without  going  into  details  concern 
ing  his  plans,  he  led  her  to  believe  that,  at  a  prear 
ranged  signal  from  her,  he  would  confront  Chiquita 
personally  and  compel  her  to  acknowledge  the  truth  be 
fore  himself  and  the  Captain.  Her  nature  revolted  at 
that  which  Don  Felipe  told  her,  cried  out  for  justice, 
for  the  exposure  of  the  impostor;  nevertheless,  she  dis 
liked  a  scene,  and  for  the  Captain's  sake,  made  Don 
Felipe  promise  to  do  nothing  unless  she  gave  the 
signal. 

One  week  hence  and  their  scores  would  be  even.  The 
thought  thrilled  him  as  he  paced  the  length  of  his 
room,  his  hands  clasping  and  unclasping  nervously  be 
hind  his  back;  his  mind  actively  engaged  in  rehearsing 
the  events  of  the  last  few  days  which  led  to  the  dis 
covery,  and  the  details  of  the  plan  he  had  formulated, 
the  carrying  out  of  which  was  to  be  deferred  until  that 
eventful  evening  when  the  principal  families  of  the  town 
and  neighborhood,  her  friends  and  acquaintances,  would 
be  gathered  together  to  witness  her  shame  —  the  same  as 
they  had  witnessed  his.  Her  disgrace  would  be  far 
worse  than  his  had  been.  She  would  be  an  outcast; 


WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE 

for  let  a  man  transgress  and  the  world  may  forgive  him, 
but  let  a  woman  fall  and  she  is  damned  forever  so  far 
as  the  world  is  concerned.  He  would  make  no  mistake 
this  time.  He  carefully  weighed  every  detail  of  his 
plan,  considered  every  eventuality  that  might  arise. 
Subtle  and  resourceful  though  he  knew  her  to  be,  there 
would  be  no  loophole  of  escape  for  her. 

It  was  almost  too  good  to  be  true.  He  was  beside 
himself.  He  talked  and  laughed  aloud  repeatedly  when 
alone,  scarcely  able  to  retain  himself,  so  rapturously 
sweet  was  the  thought  of  her  humiliation.  Suddenly  a 
new  thought  flashed  through  his  mind.  He  had  sworn 
that  he  would  kill  Captain  Forest  —  lay  him  dead  at 
her  feet ;  but  that,  thanks  to  circumstances,  would  not 
now  be  necessary.  The  thought  of  killing  a  man  in 
cold  blood  was  not  pleasant  even  to  one  of  Don  Felipe's 
temperament  in  his  present  state  of  mind.  But  should 
circumstances  compel  him  to  do  so  to  complete  his  re 
venge,  he  would  stop  at  nothing,  let  the  consequences  be 
what  they  might. 

That  he  had  received  his  just  deserts  for  his  be 
trayal  of  a  woman,  did  not  enter  his  thoughts.  Had 
he  not  atoned  for  that  misdeed  through  years  of  suf 
fering?  Had  ever  mortal  been  humiliated  as  he  had 
been?  That  fact  alone  decided  him.  The  memory  of 
his  transgression  had  been  effaced  long  since  by  his 
intense  longing  for  revenge.  Nothing  short  of  revenge 
could  satisfy  him  now. 

A  grim  smile  lit  up  his  countenance  as  he  pondered 
upon  what  he  knew.  And  yet,  he  reflected,  who  could 
tell?  Infatuation  might  blind  the  Captain  to  the  truth. 


24*  WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE 

It  was  best  to  be  prepared  for  all  emergencies.  Step 
ping  to  his  dresser,  he  opened  the  top  drawer  from  which 
he  took  a  knife  which  lay  concealed  beneath  the  numer 
ous  articles  it  contained.  Drawing  the  blade  from  its 
leathern  sheath,  he  ran  his  thumb  lightly  over  its  double 
edge  to  assure  himself  that  it  had  lost  none  of  its  keen 
ness.  He  always  carried  a  pistol,  but  considering  the 
circumstances  a  knife  would  be  better.  It  would  make 
no  noise,  create  less  disturbance.  It  would  be  so  easy, 
in  some  secluded  part  of  the  garden,  to  thrust  it  home 
and  get  away  quietly  before  the  deed  was  discovered. 
One  quick  thrust,  a  stifled  cry,  that  would  be  all.  As 
a  youth  he  could  have  placed  that  blade  at  ten  paces 
in  the  center  of  a  mark  no  larger  than  a  silver  dollar 
at  every  cast.  But  he  had  no  thought  of  employing 
such  a  method  now  even  if  he  were  able  to.  Striking 
the  Captain  would  be  like  sinking  the  blade  in  Chiquita's 
heart ;  for  did  he  not  hate  the  Captain,  because  she  loved 
him,  almost  as  much  as  he  hated  her?  No,  he  would 
not  forego  that  exquisite  sense  of  pleasure  and  satis 
faction,  born  of  jealousy  and  his  insatiable  thirst  for 
revenge. 

For  some  time  he  toyed  absently  with  the  knife. 
Then,  from  sheer  exuberance  of  spirits,  he  began  toss 
ing  it  aloft;  watching  with  sparkling  eyes  the  glittering 
blade  as  it  turned  over  and  over  in  the  air  and  catch 
ing  it  deftly  by  the  hilt  in  his  right  hand  as  it  de 
scended.  His  hand  and  wrist  were  firm  and  supple  as 
of  old;  they  had  lost  none  of  their  vigor  during  the 
long  years  he  had  wandered  aimlessly  about  the  world. 


WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE 

Again  that  cold  smile,  cruel  and  cutting  as  the  edge 
of  his  knife,  lit  up  his  face  as  he  at  length  sheathed 
the  blade  in  its  leathern  case  and  returned  it  to  its  rest 
ing  place  in  the  drawer  of  his  dresser. 


XXVI 

CONVICTION  is  one  thing,  decision  another.  Any 
one  who  has  been  taught  from  earliest  childhood 
to  regard  black  as  white  could  hardly  be  expected  to 
distinguish  in  a  moment  the  virtue  of  the  latter. 

Daily  Bessie  resolved  to  follow  the  promptings  of 
her  heart;  usually  at  the  close  of  the  day  when  the 
cool  of  the  evening  set  in,  when  the  stars  again  took 
up  their  procession  across  the  heavens  and  she  walked 
and  chatted  with  Dick  in  the  garden.  But  when  morn 
ing  dawned  and  she  thought  of  her  father's  awful 
prognostications  and  the  dire  consequences  which  must 
inevitably  ensue  should  she  take  the  step,  her  ardor 
cooled  and  she  as  often  changed  her  mind.  Her  father 
spent  hours  arguing  with  her,  trying  to  impress  her 
with  the  importance  of  the  duty  she  owed  society  which 
consisted  in  obeying  to  the  letter  the  behests  of  the  set 
in  which  she  had  always  moved. 

Greatly  to  the  Colonel's  astonishment  and  disgust,  his 
daughter  seemed  strangely  lacking  in  this  particular 
moral  quality.  How  had  her  insight  become  so  obtuse? 
He  could  not  understand  it,  especially  as  he  had  taken 
particular  pains  while  bringing  her  up  to  steel  her  heart 
against  the  insidious  longings  of  maudlin  sentiment  and 
to  teach  her  to  despise  everything  outside  of  her  partic 
ular  world.  He  and  his  wife  had  not  regarded  love 

244 


WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE  245 

the  chief  essential  to  marriage,  so  why  should  his  daugh 
ter?  That  she,  under  the  circumstances,  should  hesi 
tate  between  happiness  and  a  life  of  regret,  was  a  thing 
unique,  almost  incomprehensible  to  him.  That  she 
should  question  his  authority,  his  right  to  choose  for  her, 
and  his  superior  knowledge  of  the  world,  was  still  more 
surprising.  Her  disaffection  was  strongly  suggestive  of 
disrespect,  a  lack  of  faith  in  his  infallibility  in  which  he, 
the  Colonel,  firmly  believed,  if  nobody  else  did. 

The  thought  that  the  efforts  of  years  might  come  to 
naught  was  bitter  as  wormwood  to  him.  It  was  bad 
enough  that  his  nephew  should  besmirch  the  family 
escutcheon,  but  that  his  daughter  should  deliberately 
contract  a  mesalliance  in  the  face  of  his  objections,  was 
too  much.  It  was  the  last  straw.  The  country  was 
going  to  the  dogs.  He  argued,  pleaded,  stormed  and 
swore  and  beat  his  head  against  the  wall  of  indifference 
and  obstinacy  which  his  daughter  reared  between  them 
with  the  unremitting  fury  of  a  wasp  that  finds  itself 
on  the  wrong  side  of  a  windowpane.  This  new  turn 
in  affairs  rendered  Mrs.  Forest  so  furious  that  she 
snapped  right  and  left  regardless  of  persons  like  a  dog 
possessed  of  the  rabies,  rendering  herself  the  most 
disagreeable  person  in  the  house. 

The  alarming  rapidity  with  which  event  succeeded 
event,  whirling  them  onward  to  some  unseen  end,  was 
more  than  sufficient  to  convince  them  all  that  life  was 
fast  becoming  a  very  uncertain  quantity.  No  one 
knew  what  the  morrow  might  bring  forth ;  and  all,  with 
the  exception  of  the  Captain,  were  wrought  up  to  a 
pitch  of  nervous  tension  that  threatened  the  breaking 


246  WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE 

point.  Don  Felipe  shadowed  Chiquita  and  the  Cap 
tain  —  Chiquita  and  Blanch  regarded  one  another  with 
increasing  suspicion  —  Dick  pressed  his  suit  with  the 
ardor  of  desperation ;  while  the  Colonel  and  Mrs.  Forest 
nagged  on  all  sides.  Even  Senora  wore  an  anxious, 
worried  look.  It  was  evident  to  all  that  things,  as  they 
were,  could  not  continue  much  longer.  Only  the  Cap 
tain  seemed  capable  of  keeping  his  head  above  water; 
for  him  the  future  held  no  terrors.  The  more  compli 
cated  matters  became,  the  more  serene  he  grew ;  for 
had  he  not  vowed  that  he  would  see  things  through  to 
the  end?  They  would  all  have  an  opportunity  of  judg 
ing  who  it  would  be  that  would  laugh  last. 

The  fandango  would  relieve  the  tension.  Blanch's 
inspiration  was  truly  a  stroke  of  genius,  for  anything 
was  better  than  a  continuance  of  the  present  state  of 
affairs.  Ever  since  Dick's  declaration  of  love,  Bessie 
had  fought  and  struggled  against  the  tide  of  events 
which  was  overwhelming  her  by  making  herself  as  dis 
agreeable  as  possible  in  his  eyes.  But  what  could  she 
do  to  thwart  the  machinations  of  a  man  who  laughed 
at  her  moods,  who  encouraged  her  with  each  fresh  out 
burst  ? 

Scarcely  an  hour  elapsed  after  parting  from  him, 
than  a  note  was  slipped  into  her  hand  by  some  one  of 
the  many  Mexican  attendants,  telling  her  how  he  adored 
her  moods.  That  a  frown  from  her  was  sweeter  than 
the  perpetual  smile  of  another  woman ;  that  he  loved  a 
woman  of  spirit;  that  she  would  find  him  on  the  mor 
row  in  the  dust  at  her  feet  as  usual;  that  the  sensation 
he  experienced  while  being  trampled  upon  could  only 


WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE  247 

be  likened  unto  that  of  being  borne  aloft  on  wings, 
etc.  She  grew  hot  and  cold  by  turns  as  she  read  these 
missives,  and  sulked  and  softened  and  flew  into  fits  of 
passion,  and  tore  them  into  bits,  thoroughly  disgusted 
with  her  weakness  and  her  inability  to  remedy  mat 
ters,  and  invariably  ended  by  wishing  to  see  him  again. 
Clearly,  her  only  hope  of  delivery  lay  in  the  alternatives 
of  instant  flight,  or  of  ridding  herself  of  his  importuni 
ties  by  marrying  him ;  either  of  which  she  found  equally 
difficult  and  impossible  to  execute.  She  did  not  know 
that  Dick  was  putting  on  a  bold  front;  that  his  atti 
tude  was  assumed ;  that,  like  her,  he  was  at  his  wits' 
end;  that,  if  she  suffered,  he  suffered  tenfold.  Her 
annoyance  was  insignificant  in  comparison  to  the  cy 
clonic  outbursts  that  swept  over  him. 

Ah,  yes,  Anita,  Concho's  wife,  had  predicted  events 
with  fair  accuracy.  When  he  sought  to  take  her,  she 
was  not  there,  but  somewhere  else  —  everywhere.  Just 
like  a  kitten  that  frisks  among  the  leaves  in  autumn 
when  they  are  whirled  about  by  the  wind ;  now  here, 
now  there,  now  up  a  tree.  Though  each  had  taken  the 
measure  of  the  other  with  fair  accuracy,  each  had  mis 
judged  the  other's  strength;  and  it  was  becoming 
problematical  just  how  much  longer  he  would  be  able  to 
hold  out.  Nothing  had  ever  daunted  him.  All  his  life 
long  he  had  never  failed  to  accomplish  the  things  of  real 
importance.  No  undertaking  had  ever  proved  too 
great.  Colonel  Yankton,  his  foster-father,  had  taught 
him  the  value  of  perseverance,  and  he  had  learned  his 
lesson  well.  He  instinctively  felt  that  the  great  crisis 
of  his  life  was  at  hand ;  that  all  his  efforts,  his  successes 


248  WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE 

in  life  must  count  for  naught  so  far  as  he  personally 
was  concerned,  should  he  fail  to  win  her.  He  knew 
that  his  fate  hung  in  the  balance,  that  the  morrow  would 
practically  decide  whether  the  one  thing  his  life  lacked 
would  be  added  unto  it,  or  that  he  would  go  on  to  the 
end  alone. 

He  had  gone  for  a  stroll  in  the  town  after  the  cus 
tomary  gathering  in  the  patio  in  the  evening.  The 
others  had  long  since  retired  for  the  night  when  he 
returned  to  the  Posada.  Feeling  no  inclination  to  sleep, 
he  seated  himself  on  the  veranda  in  front  of  the  house, 
and  lighting  a  fresh  cigar,  smoked  and  mused;  his  gaze 
fixed  on  the  tall  moonlit  hedge  which  separated  the 
Posada  from  the  highroad ;  his  thoughts  reverting  to  the 
days  of  his  boyhood.  Again  he  saw  the  Colonel,  tall 
and  erect,  the  personification  of  manhood,  indomitable 
will  and  courage,  seated  upon  his  horse  at  the  head  of 
his  regiment,  and  heard  the  ringing,  clarion  notes  of  the 
bugle  —  the  signal  for  the  charge.  Yes,  he  would  make 
one  more  supreme  effort,  and  if  that  failed,  well.  .  .  . 
His  cigar  had  burned  low.  He  tossed  it  over  the  ver 
anda  rail  and  rose  with  the  intention  of  retiring,  when 
his  attention  was  arrested  by  the  faint  sound  of  a  horse's 
hoofs  on  the  highroad  in  the  distance.  Something 
seemed  to  tell  him  to  wait,  and  acting  on  the  impulse, 
he  paused  and  listened.  The  sounds  drew  nearer,  in 
creasing  in  volume  as  the  animal  approached,  until  a 
horseman  finally  turned  in  from  the  road  at  an  easy 
canter  and  drew  rein  before  the  Posada.  Both  man 
and  horse  were  covered  with  dust  which  shone  white  as 


WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE  249 

snow  in  the  moonlight;  a  proof  that  they  had  traveled 
far  during  the  day. 

"  Bucnas  noches,  Senor,"  said  the  rider,  a  Mexican, 
swinging  himself  from  the  saddle  and  ascending  the  steps 
to  where  Dick  stood. 

"  Good  evening,"  replied  the  latter  in  Spanish,  eyeing 
the  man  curiously. 

"  I  wish,"  continued  the  stranger,  "  to  speak  with 
one  Senor  Yankton  who,  I  was  told,  lives  in  Santa  Fe. 
Perhaps,  Senor,  you  can  tell  me  where  I  may  find 
him?" 

"  I  am  Senor  Yankton.     What  do  you  want  ?  " 

"  Ah !  "  exclaimed  the  man,  stepping  back  a  pace 
and  regarding  Dick  critically.  "  Your  appearance  an 
swers  the  description  well,  Senor,  but  that  is  not  enough 
—  I  must  have  proof."  Just  then  a  vaquero  on  night 
duty  who  had  been  lounging  in  the  deep  shadow  at  the 
far  end  of  the  veranda  came  forward  on  hearing  the 
sounds  of  voices. 

"  Diego,"  said  Dick,  addressing  the  latter,  "  tell  this 
gentleman  whether  I  be  Senor  Yankton  or  not.  He 
says  he  wishes  to  see  him." 

"  Of  a  truth,  Senor,  here  is  the  man  you  seek,"  an 
swered  Diego,  addressing  the  stranger. 

"  Bueno  —  good!  "  ejaculated  the  Mexican,  pulling  a 
sealed  packet  from  the  inner  pocket  of  his  jacket.  "  I 
come  from  the  Rio  Plata,  six  days'  journey  toward  the 
west.  I  have  been  commissioned  to  deliver  this  to  you, 
Senor,"  and  he  handed  the  packet  to  Dick  who,  taking 
it,  gave  instructions  to  Diego  that  the  man  and  his 


250          WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE 

horse  be  properly  housed  for  the  night.  Then,  with  an 
"  hasta  la  vista,"  and  "  God  be  with  you  until  the  mor 
row,  Senor,"  he  retired  to  his  room.  There,  by  the  dim 
light  of  a  candle,  he  carefully  scrutinized  the  address 
on  the  packet,  but  did  not  recognize  the  writing.  Never 
theless,  he  instinctively  felt  as  he  turned  it  over  in  his 
hands  before  breaking  the  seal,  that,  in  some  manner 
or  other,  it  was  intimately  concerned  with  his  fate. 


XXVII 

THE  preparations  for  the  fandango  were  complete. 
The  men  and  women  of  the  household,  under  Juan 
Ramon's  supervision,  had  worked  hard  since  sunrise, 
stringing  gayly  colored  lanterns  and  arranging  tables 
and  chairs,  palms  and  potted  flowers  and  shrubs  in 
the  patio.  It  was  close  on  to  five  o'clock  and  they 
now  rested  in  the  patio  in  the  shade  of  its  arcades, 
smoking  cigarettes  and  sipping  black  coffee,  and  chat 
ting  and  laughing  as  they  viewed  with  satisfaction  the 
results  of  their  handiwork.  The  day  gave  promise 
of  a  perfect  night.  It  was  to  be  a  typical  Spanish 
fiesta,  and  in  order  that  the  illusion  might  be  com 
plete,  both  the  Whites  and  the  Indians  were  to  appear 
in  their  national  costumes.  All  the  leading  Spanish 
families  of  the  town  and  the  neighborhood  would  be 
present.  Not  an  invitation  had  been  refused. 

Captain  Forest  had  agreed  to  take  tea  with  Blanch 
in  the  garden,  and,  true  to  his  word,  he  appeared 
punctually,  almost  on  the  minute.  The  pretty  Rosita, 
the  only  one  of  the  household  excepting  Senora  Fernan 
dez  and  Juan  Ramon  who  understood  and  spoke  Eng 
lish  after  a  fashion,  withdrew  reluctantly  after  de 
positing  her  tray  containing  tea  and  tortillas  upon  the 
table.  She  adored  the  beautiful  Americana,  and  had 
been  doing  a  great  deal  of  thinking  of  late.  The  rea- 

251 


252 

son  for  her  coming  might  not  be  Don  Felipe  at  all, 
but  Captain  Forest,  the  grand  Seiior.  Who  could  say? 
The  ways  of  the  Americano,  the  gringo,  were  so  dif 
ferent  from  theirs.  Everything  they  did  was  exactly 
opposite  to  their  way  of  thinking  and  doing  things. 
No  well-bred,  unmarried  Spanish  woman  would 
dare  take  tea  alone  with  a  man  unless  they  were  en 
gaged. 

The  signs  of  autumn  were  visible  on  every  hand. 
The  long,  languid,  summer  travail  had  ceased  and  the 
season  of  dreams  begun.  Though  the  sky  was  a  clear 
steel-blue  overhead,  the  horizon  was  veiled  in  a  thin 
blue  haze  into  which  the  landscape  and  distant  ob 
jects  seemed  to  fade  and  lose  themselves.  Filmy 
threads  of  gossamer  floated  through  the  air,  suffused 
with  a  soft  golden  glow.  Most  of  the  birds  had  ceased 
to  sing  and  the  drone  of  insects  became  less  persistent, 
as  if  fearful  to  disturb  the  hush  and  calm  that  pervaded 
the  land. 

Captain  Forest  noticed,  as  he  seated  himself  at  the 
table  opposite  Blanch,  that  the  golden  glow  in  her 
hair  was  almost  a  perfect  match  to  the  shafts  of  sun 
light  which  sifted  down  upon  her  through  the  branches 
of  the  trees  overhead.  And  he  wondered  at  his  resisting 
powers  —  why  the  spell  of  her  fascination  no  longer 
held  him  as  of  old,  not  realizing  that  his  love  for 
her  had  waned  in  the  same  proportion  that  he  had  grown 
beyond  her.  The  air  of  restraint  which  existed  between 
them  would  have  been  apparent  even  to  a  stranger,  but 
Blanch  had  decided  to  dissipate  this  feeling  if  pos 
sible.  She  laughed  and  chatted  as  though  entirely  at 


WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE  253 

her  ease,  as  though  nothing  had  ever  come  between 
them;  making  sarcastic  remarks  on  the  customs  of  the 
country;  calling  into  requisition  all  the  blandishments 
and  fascinations  which  a  woman  of  her  intelligence  and 
attraction  was  capable  of  exercising  upon  a  man. 
Every  word,  every  look  and  gesture  fell  upon  him  like 
a  caress.  She  flattered,  cajoled  and  contradicted  him, 
employing  that  subtle,  deceptive  art  of  refined  coquetry 
to  which  a  sensitive  nature  like  the  Captain's  was  most 
susceptible.  Nor  were  its  effects  lost  upon  him ;  they 
were  soon  both  at  their  ease.  She  was  the  old  Blanch 
again ;  the  girl  and  companion  of  his  youth  —  the 
woman  of  yesterday. 

The  struggle  that  was  being  fought  out  inch  by  inch 
between  her  and  Chiquita  was  drawing  swiftly  to  its 
close,  and  must  end  as  abruptly  as  it  began.  She  had 
only  begun  to  realize  what  the  full  significance  of  love 
meant  in  the  hour  that  she  felt  the  loneliness  oc 
casioned  by  the  lack  of  it.  She  had  miscalculated. 
She  thought  she  was  stronger  than  Captain  Forest,  but 
could  she  have  cared  for  him  had  he  been  a  weaker 
man?  It  was  his  strength  which  she  both  loved  and 
hated,  and  deep  down  in  her  heart  she  knew  full  well 
that,  were  he  weaker  than  herself,  she  must  have  ended 
by  despising  him.  She,  like  Chiquita,  was  fighting  for 
her  life,  her  very  existence  so  to  speak;  but  of  course 
he  did  not  divine  the  full  significance  of  the  struggle  — 
what  it  meant  to  them  both ;  no  man  could. 

"  Does  the  charm  of  this  land  still  continue  to  hold 
you,  Jack?"  she  asked  carelessly,  passing  him  a  cup 
of  tea. 


254  WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE 

"  More  than  ever,"  he  answered,  lighting  a  cigarette 
and  wondering  what  she  was  leading  up  to. 

"  Don't  you  think  you  have  had  about  enough  of 
it?  "  she  continued,  with  just  a  shade  of  sarcasm  in 
her  voice.  "  You  have  had  a  royal  vacation  and  I'm 
glad  you  have  enjoyed  yourself  so  thoroughly,  but, 
honestly,  don't  you  think  it's  about  time  you  were  re 
turning  to  your  work  again,  to  the  world  to  which 
you  belong,  of  which  you  are  a  part  and  from  which, 
in  spite  of  all  effort  and  argument,  you  cannot  possibly 
separate  yourself?  You  know,  I  never  could  take  your 
idea  seriously,  Jack,"  she  added,  with  increasing  con 
fidence,  addressing  him  as  one  would  a  naughty  child. 
He  only  smiled  by  way  of  reply,  and  quietly  blew  a 
ring  of  smoke  into  the  air. 

"  I  see  you  are  as  obstinate  and  determined  as  ever," 
she  continued  rather  petulantly.  "  Don't  be  overcon 
fident  though;  you  might  fail,  you  know,  and  failure  is 
always  discouraging  —  it  involves  such  a  waste  of 
time." 

"  If  I  do,  it  will  be  the  first  time  I  have  failed."  He 
was  about  to  continue,  but  checked  himself.  They  were 
getting  on  dangerous  ground.  She  understood  his  in 
ference  and  colored  and  smiled.  For  some  time  neither 
spoke.  A  gold  leaf,  one  of  the  first  heralds  of  autumn, 
dropped  silently  down  from  the  bough  overhead  to  the 
center  of  the  table.  He  took  another  sip  of  tea. 

"  Jack,"  she  said  at  length,  raising  her  eyes  from 
her  hands  in  her  lap  where  she  toyed  with  her  fan, 
"  supposing  a  position  were  offered  you,  one  quite  worth 
your  while,  would  you  return?  Not  immediately,  but 


WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE  255 

later  on,  when  you  have  grown  a  little  tired  of  play 
ing  at  the  game  of  life  ?  In  six  months,  say  —  or 
even  a  year  if  you  like?  "  Her  whole  attitude  and 
expression  had  changed,  and  a  look  of  pleading  and 
expectancy  shone  from  her  eyes.  Again  he  smiled. 
What  was  she  driving  at?  he  asked  himself. 

"  I'm  afraid  it  will  be  longer  than  that,  Blanch," 
he  answered.  "  Besides,  what  position  could  possibly 
be  open  to  me?  You  know,  my  name  is  struck  from 
the  lists.  At  least,  it  ought  to  be  if  it  isn't." 

"  Possibly,"  she  answered.  "  But,  if  you  cared 
enough,  there  might  be  another  chance !  " 

"  What  do  you  mean  ?  "  he  interrupted,  regarding  her 
curiously.  In  reply,  she  quietly  drew  an  official  docu 
ment  from  her  bosom  and  handed  it  to  him  across  the  ta 
ble  without  a  word.  He  colored,  and  she  saw  that  his 
hand  trembled  slightly,  betraying  the  emotion  he  felt 
as  he  opened  the  envelope  and  glanced  hastily  over  its 
contents.  "  The  Ministry  to  Turkey  —  Blanch !  "  he 
gasped,  regarding  her  in  astonishment. 

"  Yes,"  she  answered  nervously,  watching  closely  the 
effect  the  news  had  upon  him.  "  I  received  it  a  week 
ago.  The  President  knows  how  clever  you  are,  Jack, 
and  has  promised  to  keep  the  position  open  for  you  if 
you  will  consent  to  accept  it.  You  know,  he  always  had 
a  warm  place  in  his  heart  for  you." 

"  Blanch ! "  he  said  again,  overcome  by  emotion. 
And  laying  the  document  down  upon  the  table  in  front 
of  him  he  rose  to  his  feet. 

"  Turkey,  Jack,  is  but  a  step  to  London,  St.  Peters 
burg,  Berlin  or  Paris,"  she  said  softly,  looking  up  at  him 


256  WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE 

and  catching  her  breath  in  the  effort  to  conceal  her  ex 
citement.  "  It  is  yours,  Jack,  if  you  wish  it.  Under 
stand,"  she  resumed,  lowering  her  gaze  and  running  her 
slender  white  hand  slowly  back  and  forth  over  the  edge 
of  her  half-open  fan,  "  that  it  is  yours  without  reser 
vation.  You  are  under  no  obligations.  Turkey  and  — 
I  are  two  different  things,"  she  added  slowly  and  with 
difficulty,  without  looking  up;  her  neck  and  face  turn 
ing  a  deep  scarlet.  She  felt  the  intensity  of  his  blaz 
ing  eyes  upon  her. 

"  Blanch !  "  he  cried,  and  this  time  there  was  a  note 
of  anger  in  his  voice.  "  Don't  think  me  ungrateful,  I 
beg  of  you.  I  appreciate  what  you  have  done,  and  I 
thank  you  with  my  whole  heart,  but  —  I  can't  do  it, 
Blanch!" 

"  Jack !  "  she  cried,  throwing  off  the  mask  and  spring 
ing  to  her  feet.  "  I  can't  stand  it  any  longer !  I  can't 
see  you  wreck  your  life  in  this  way !  Can't  you  see  the 
folly  you  are  committing?  Don't  think  me  presumptu 
ous;  that  I  am  trying  to  meddle,  interfere  in  your  life. 
I  am  merely  trying  to  save  you  from  yourself!  It's 
your  last  chance,  Jack.  Go  back  again  and  never  mind 
me ;  I've  nothing  to  do  with  it !  I  can  easily  under 
stand  how  this  life  can  have  a  certain  fascination  for 
you,  but  only  for  a  time ;  it  can't  last.  The  more  I  see 
of  it,  the  more  I'm  convinced  that  I'm  right.  What's  the 
use  of  mincing  words,  fencing  about  the  truth  any 
longer?  I  understand  —  I've  seen  it  from  the  first. 
It's  not  this  life,  but  the  woman  that  holds  you !  "  she 
cried  abruptly  and  passionately,  almost  fiercely,  be 
traying  her  jealousy. 


WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE  257 

"  Don't  wreck  your  life  and  happiness  before  it  is  too 
late.  You  must  tire  of  her  as  inevitably  as  you  will  tire 
of  this  life,  and  what  then?  Can't  you  see  that,  when 
you  have  exhausted  the  glamour,  and  the  fascination  of 
things  is  gone,  she  would  no  longer  be  a  companion  to 
you?  The  difference  between  you  —  your  lives,  your 
world  and  hers,  is  too  great.  It  is  insurmountable  — 
impassable !  What  can  she  know  of  the  world  which  you 
and  I  know,  to  which  you  belong?  Of  another  race,  an 
other  blood,  she  must  ever  remain  an  alien,  a  thing  apart 
from  yourself ;  there  can  never  be  a  true  affinity  between 
you.  She  is  a  savage  —  an  aborigine  sprung  from  the 
soil.  The  tinsel  and  veneer  of  civilization  which  she 
has  acquired  doesn't  change  her  and  can't  endure. 
She  is  still  a  savage  in  spite  of  it,  the  product  of  sav 
age  ancestry  living  close  to  the  soil.  The  simplicity  and 
glamour  and  freedom  of  this  life  casts  a  spell  over  one 
and  attracts  one  of  your  adventurous  nature,  sated  with 
the  pleasures  and  luxuries  of  our  world,  but  will  the  spell 
last?  Once  you  have  exhausted  the  simple,  elemental 
joys  of  such  a  life,  it  must  become  irksome,  mere  animal 
existence,  unbearable,  positive  boredom  to  you.  That 
in  her  which  attracts  you  now  must  inevitably  become 
commonplace  in  time  and  repel  you.  You  could  not  en 
dure  that,  Jack ;  you  who  are  evolved  through  thousands 
of  generations  from  a  higher,  superior  race.  Your 
reason  and  instinct  must  tell  you  that. 

"  Jack ! "  she  cried  in  a  fresh  outburst,  "  we  were 
made  for  one  another!  How  can  she,  an  Indian,  the 
product  of  savagery,  understand  you  who  are  of  a  differ 
ent  race,  the  product  of  civilization?  Your  soul  can 


258  WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE 

never  find  the  full  response  in  hers  that  it  can  in  mine. 
I  know  I  was  foolish  —  call  it  willful  rather  than  foolish 
—  the  instinct  that  is  born  in  me  to  command.  I 
should  not  have  let  you  go.  I  should  have  consented 
to  share  the  life  you  proposed,  but  I  did  not  believe  you 
were  in  earnest ;  I  did  not  think  it  would  last.  Besides, 
how  could  you  have  expected  me  to  understand?  It  was 
too  much;  you  had  no  right  to  ask  it  of  me  then.  I 
thought,  of  course,  you  would  come  back  to  me  again, 
Jack;  I  waited  for  that.  Can't  you  understand?  But 
you  didn't  come  back,  and  I  repented  of  my  mistake  a 
thousand  times.  We  all  make  mistakes,  Jack !  " 

His  manhood  revolted  against  being  compelled  to 
listen  to  her  confession,  her  pleading.  It  was  undigni 
fied,  cowardly.  It  disgusted  him  and  he  hated  himself 
for  it,  but  what  could  he  do  ? 

"  Don't  say  that,  Blanch,"  he  answered  gently.  "  It 
is  I  who  should  ask  forgiveness.  I  know  it  was  too 
much  to  ask  you  to  share  such  a  life  with  me,  but  I  did 
not  realize  it  at  the  time.  I  wronged  you,  I  know.  I 
would  gladly  make  reparation  if  I  knew  how." 

"  Oh !  none  of  that  virtuous,  good-humored  acquies 
cence,  Jack!  I  want  you  to  forget  everything,  all  but 
the  days  before  it  happened,  when  you  loved  me  —  when 
you  swore  that  your  love  was  as  constant  as  the  stars ! 
Have  you  forgotten  your  oath?  To  be  true  to  your 
self,  Jack,  you  must  forget !  "  She  paused.  It  was 
the  first  frank  utterance  she  had  made  since  her  coming ; 
and,  for  the  time  being,  she  seemed  to  have  forgotten  her 
resentment  toward  him. 

"  I  have  not  changed,  Jack,"  she  went  on.     "  I  am  the 


WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE  259 

same  as  then;  I  only  did  not  understand  you.  How 
could  I  have  guessed  that  which  lay  buried  within  you, 
those  latent  ideals  and  conceptions  of  life  which  you 
yourself  were  ignorant  of?  But  I  understand  you  now, 
Jack.  It  was  the  foolish  conceit  of  the  girl's  heart 
that  caused  me  to  forget  what  I  owed  you;  but  now  it 
is  the  woman  who  speaks,  who  bares  her  soul  to  you, 
brimming  full  of  love  and  passion  and  tenderness  for 
the  man  she  loves  and  longs  to  protect  —  the  woman 
who  loves  as  the  girl  could  never  have  loved,  Jack." 

The  light  that  shone  from  her  eyes  bespoke  the  voice 
of  her  conscience;  told  him  that  she  at  least  spoke  the 
truth.  Never  had  she  appeared  more  beautiful,  more 
fascinating  and  alluring  than  at  this  moment,  as  she 
stood  before  him,  flushed  and  radiant  and  trembling  with 
passion,  confused  and  indignant  and  ashamed;  the 
woman  rebelling  within  her  at  being  thus  forced  to  lay 
bare  her  soul,  make  confession  before  the  man  she  loved. 
It  was  cruel  and  he  knew  it.  Her  words  were  like  knife- 
thrusts  at  his  heart,  filling  his  soul  to  its  depths  with  sym 
pathy  and  compassion  for  her,  and  bitterness  and  loath 
ing  for  himself. 

The  vision  of  yesterday  with  its  gay  scenes  which  he 
had  cast  aside,  rose  before  him  again.  Its  seductive  al 
lurements  swept  over  him  with  redoubled  force  like  a 
great  compelling  wave,  filled  with  music  and  light  and 
laughter,  the  false,  seductive  charms  of  which  their  pres 
ent  surroundings  knew  naught.  The  magic  of  her  voice, 
her  face,  her  touch  had  lost  none  of  its  charm.  He  felt 
her  fascination  still,  in  spite  of  himself  and  the  bitterness 
of  former  days  which  he  had  cherished  in  his  heart 


260  WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE 

against  her.  The  lure  of  the  old  life  was  strong  upon 
him.  He  felt  the  hot  blood  rush  to  his  face  and  heart ; 
his  being  surged.  She  had  been  a  part  of  his  life,  they 
had  grown  up  together,  and  do  what  he  would,  her  pres 
ence  brought  him  face  to  face  again  with  certain  reali 
ties,  with  the  old  life  which  he  thought  was  dead  but 
which  was  not  yet  buried.  When  he  looked  upon  her, 
he  heard  the  old  familiar  sounds  of  the  sea,  of  music  and 
siren-voices  of  civilizations  in  their  decay  —  breathed 
again  the  intoxicating  atmosphere  of  that  erotic,  volup 
tuous,  sensuous  existence  in  which  he  had  been  reared 
and  had  lived,  and  with  which  he  was  saturated  and  from 
which  he  was  striving  to  escape.  But  when  he  thought 
of  Chiquita,  he  heard  the  murmur  of  forests  and  waters 
and  saw  the  broad  expanse  of  the  plains  and  the  wild 
crags  and  peaks  that  rear  their  heads  heavenward,  above 
which  the  eagles  soar.  Nature  beckoned  with  wide 
spread  arms  to  her  child  to  come  —  the  manhood  within 
him  cried  for  release,  for  the  recognition  of  the  individ 
ual's  right  to  self-assertion. 

Poets  have  sung  of  the  raptures  of  first  love,  but  was 
Blanch  really  his  first  love?  The  true  first  love  is  only 
that  man  or  woman  who  can  cause  one  to  forget  oneself. 
Somewhere  deep  down  in  our  souls  there's  a  something 
which  sleeps  until  that  hour  when  it  suddenly  bursts  into 
flame,  as  it  were,  and  the  new  man  is  born  within 
us ;  and  this  is  what  had  happened  to  him,  though  all 
unknown  to  himself,  at  the  time  when  he  first  beheld 
Chiquita  riding  alone  in  the  hills.  In  an  instant  his 
soul  was  aflame.  He  thrilled  at  the  sight  of  her  as  she 
turned  and  rode  away  in  the  dusk,  and  felt  like  crying 


WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE  261 

out  to  her  to  stop;  that  she  was  his,  that  she  had  been 
his  from  the  beginning  of  time  and  he  likewise  hers ; 
that  he  had  been  searching  for  her  down  the  ages  and 
had  found  her  at  last.  All  this  and  much  more  flashed 
through  his  mind  as  he  gazed  upon  the  beautiful  vision 
of  Blanch  before  him  and  felt  the  charm  of  her  presence 
slowly  creeping  over  him  and  fastening  itself  upon  him 
in  spite  of  his  resistance  like  the  subtle,  mysterious  in 
fluence  of  music  or  rich  old  wine. 

For  some  time  he  seemed  uncertain  how  to  act  or  what 
to  say.  She  noted  it.  His  hesitation  inspired  her  with 
fresh  courage,  causing  her  face  and  eyes  to  shine  with 
the  radiance  of  hope,  dazzlingly  beautiful.  Her  breath 
came  quick  and  fast  as  she  drew  nearer  to  him  and  then 
seemed  to  cease  altogether  as  she  waited  for  his  answer. 
All  this  he  too  noticed,  and  felt  himself  weakening  under 
her  spell.  The  suspense  was  as  terrible  for  him  as  for 
her.  A  thousand  memories  rose  from  out  the  past  and 
began  pulling  at  his  heart-strings.  Inch  by  inch  he  felt 
himself  slowly  slipping  back  into  the  old  life  again,  like 
a  boat  that  has  slipped  her  moorings  and  glides  silently 
and  almost  imperceptibly  out  into  the  easy-flowing  cur 
rent.  The  struggle  grew  more  intense  within  him  as 
the  minutes  passed.  Great  beads  of  perspiration  broke 
out  upon  his  brow  as  he  listened  to  those  voices  whose 
sweetness  and  intensity  increased  with  his  hesitancy  — 
those  voices  beneath  whose  charm  and  spell  the  strongest 
men  have  succumbed  in  the  past. 

"  Blanch,"  he  said  at  last,  hoarsely  and  almost  in  a 
whisper,  "  it  takes  a  better  man  than  I  to  say  '  no  '  to 
you,  and  I  don't  say  it.  But  I  have  changed."  The 


262  WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE 

mere  fact  of  speaking  and  the  sound  of  his  voice  seemed 
to  recall  him  to  himself,  to  the  realization  of  where  he 
was  and  what  he  was  doing.  He  felt  that  he  was  still 
master  of  himself  and  his  confidence  slowly  returned. 
"  I  know  you  can't  understand,"  he  continued.  "  But 
somehow,  I  seem  to  have  grown  beyond  you." 

"  Jack,"  she  said,  drawing  still  closer  and  laying  her 
hand  upon  his  arm  and  looking  up  into  his  face,  "  I  know 
you  have  had  more  experience  than  I  have  had,  but  don't 
imagine  that  you  have  grown  beyond  me.  Your  ideas 
have  caused  me  to  think.  I,  too,  have  grown  since  we 
last  parted.  If  you  can  give  up  the  world,  so  can  I. 
If  you  will  not  return  again  to  the  world  with  me,  I'll 
remain  here  with  you.  I'll  do  anything  you  say !  "  she 
cried  in  passionate  surrender.  "  My  body  is  soft  per 
haps  in  comparison  to  hers,  but  I'm  strong.  I'll  soon 
be  as  strong  as  you  or  she  and  be  all  the  more  to  you,  in 
finitely  more  to  you  than  she  can  ever  be.  I  know  I  did 
you  a  great  wrong  in  the  past,  Jack,  but  let  me  make 
up  for  it  now.  It  is  my  privilege,  my  debt  to  you, 
and  your  duty  to  let  me  do  it.  You  have  no  right  to 
break  your  promise  to  me,  Jack.  You  can't.  Your 
manhood  must  tell  you  that  it  is  as  sacred  now  as  the 
day  you  gave  it  to  me,  and  I  hold  you  to  it.  I'll  show 
you  a  love  you  have  never  known  —  can  never  know 
without  me !  "  She  drew  still  closer,  laying  her  other 
hand  upon  his  shoulder  caressingly ;  her  arm  almost 
encircling  his  neck.  He  felt  her  warm,  fragrant  breath 
upon  his  lips  and  the  thrilling,  magnetic  touch  of  her 
body,  vibrating  and  pulsating  with  passion  and  emotion. 
How  soft  and  voluptuous  and  tempting  and  alluring 


WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE  263 

that  body  and  presence  were!  It  was  as  though  the 
spices  and  perfumes  and  sunshine  of  far  away,  mythical 
Cathay  had  suddenly  descended  upon  him  and  enveloped 
him. 

"  Jack,"  she  continued,  "  we  have  always  been  com 
rades,  pals ;  we  were  made  for  one  another !  We  are  one 
in  thought  now  as  much  as  we  ever  were  —  more  than  we 
ever  have  been !  " 

He  knew  this  to  be  false ;  that  he  possessed  a  grip  on 
life  which  she  did  not ;  that  he  had  passed  far  beyond  her 
since  they  had  last  parted.  She  had  had  her  oppor 
tunity  and  had  thrown  it  away.  It  was  too  late.  She 
could  not  follow  him  now,  she  had  missed  the  psycholog 
ical  moment.  Even  had  she  cast  her  lot  with  his  in  the 
beginning,  he  knew  that  she  never  could  have  followed 
him.  She  was  immeshed;  her  feet  were  caught  in  the 
net.  The  blandishments  of  life  had  taken  too  deep  root 
in  her  soul  for  her  to  cast  them  forth  as  he  had  done. 
And  yet  his  conscience  smote  him  for  her  sake,  for  what 
she  suffered,  that  she  was  thus  forced  to  humiliate  her 
self  before  him.  Sentiment  and  old  memories  surged 
up  within  him  and  urged  him  to  keep  her.  What,  after 
all,  did  it  matter  where  or  how  they  lived?  The  world 
would  go  on  its  way  the  same  as  it  had  always  done;  it 
didn't  wish  to  be  reformed  and  wasn't  worth  reforming. 

"  Take  her !  take  her !  "  cried  those  voices  more  per 
sistently  than  ever.  "  Don't  be  a  fool  and  miss  this  op 
portunity  which,  once  gone,  shall  pass  out  of  your  life 
forever.  She's  as  beautiful  and  as  brilliant  as  the  other 
woman ;  one  of  your  own  race  and,  after  all,  will  wear  as 
well.  Besides,  you  know  her  and  you  don't  know  the 


264  WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE 

other  woman,  and  if  disappointed  in  the  latter  —  what 
then?  Take  her!" 

The  vision  of  Glaire's  wonderful  conception,  "  The 
Lost  Illusions,"  rose  before  him.  He  saw  again  that 
exquisite  figure  of  the  Egyptian,  strong  and  sensitive,  in 
the  prime  of  manhood,  seated  upon  the  shore  of  the 
Nile,  watching  the  bark  of  destiny  laden  with  the  fair 
illusions  of  youth,  draw  slowly  away  from  him  and 
grow  fainter  and  fainter  in  the  soft,  mellow  light  of  age, 
as  it  floated  away  on  the  evening  tide  of  life.  He,  too, 
stood  in  the  prime  of  manhood.  Was  this  to  be  his  end, 
mocked  and  laughed  at  by  fate  —  the  price  he  must  pay 
for  daring  to  lift  his  eyes  from  the  dust  to  the  stars  to 
fulfill  the  dream  of  the  ages?  God  knew  how  he  had 
fought  against  the  invisible  power  that  had  driven  him 
on  step  by  step  to  his  present  state.  He  looked  down 
into  the  beautiful  upturned  face  of  the  woman  before 
him  whom  he  had  known  so  long,  whom  he  had  loved 
and  adored;  gazed  deep  into  those  soft,  azure  eyes, 
limpid  as  two  crystal  pools,  saw  those  full  red  upturned 
lips  waiting  to  be  kissed  —  kissed.  Again  her  lips 
parted. 

"Jack,  Jack,  Sweetheart,  I'm  waiting — "  she  mur 
mured  softly,  encircling  his  neck  completely  with  her 
arm  and  drawing  his  face  gently  down  to  her  own.  Just 
then  the  rhythmic  silvery  whir  of  wings  caused  them  to 
look  upward.  Through  the  boughs  of  the  tree  they 
saw  the  indistinct  form  of  a  white  dove  that  fluttered 
overhead  for  an  instant  and  then  was  gone.  At  the 
same  moment  Captain  Forest  distinctly  recognized  the 
scent  of  Castilian  roses,  as  though  their  fragrance  had 


WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE  265 

been  wafted  full  in  his  face  by  a  breeze,  and  yet  there 
was  no  breeze,  nor  were  there  any  roses  close  at  hand ; 
the  season  of  roses  had  passed. 

No  man  could  have  resisted  for  long  the  fascinations 
of  a  woman  like  Blanch  Lennox  if  she  chose  to  make 
love  to  him.  It  was  the  sound  of  those  wings  and  the 
fragrance  of  the  roses  that  upheld  Captain  Forest's  res 
olution  ;  especially  the  fragrance  of  the  roses.  Whence 
it  came  or  how  it  originated,  who  could  say?  For  it 
came  and  passed  like  a  mere  breath.  Perhaps  the  in 
visible  angel  who,  it  is  said,  presides  over  the  destiny 
of  the  individual,  caused  it ;  for  with  it  flashed  the  vision 
of  Chiquita  before  his  eyes  as  he  had  seen  her  on  that 
day  in  the  garden  among  the  roses  and  had  silently 
watched  her  from  the  back  of  his  horse  and  breathed 
deep  drafts  of  the  flowery  fragrance.  The  same  sub 
tle,  invisible  something  that  has  changed  the  destiny  of 
individuals  and  of  nations  through  all  the  ages,  caused 
him  to  remember,  recalled  him  to  himself.  The  man 
hood  surged  up  within  him,  asserting  its  supremacy,  and 
he  drew  himself  up  with  a  sudden  impulse.  She  noted 
the  change,  and  in  a  fierce,  passionate  voice,  almost  of 
terror,  cried :  "  Jack,  you  are  mine,  you  have  always 
been  mine !  I  will  not  give  you  up  —  I  claim  my 
own !  "  and  she  flung  her  arms  passionately  about  his 
neck  in  an  endeavor  to  draw  his  lips  down  to  her  own. 

"  I  can't  —  I  can't  do  it,  Blanch ! "  he  said,  and 
shook  himself  free.  With  a  cry,  terrible  in  its  intensity 
and  despair,  she  sank  across  the  table. 


XXVIII 

PALE  and  trembling  and  humiliated,  Blanch  pulled 
herself  together  with  an  effort  and  stood  for  some 
time  as  one  dazed  where  the  Captain  had  left  her.  Then, 
she  remembered,  she  had  smiled  and  bowed  absently  to 
the  men  and  women  in  the  patio  on  the  way  back  to  her 
room,  where  she  flung  herself  down  upon  the  couch  in  a 
frenzy,  burying  her  face  in  the  cushions;  her  frame 
shaking  with  passionate,  convulsive  sobs  as  she  writhed 
in  paroxysms  of  untold  grief  and  pain. 

He  had  refused  her,  dared  to  refuse  her  —  her !  She 
had  failed !  Was  this,  then,  the  end,  the  reward  for 
righteous  ambition,  conscientious  endeavor?  For 
years  she  had  worked  and  schemed  for  the  realization  of 
her  ideal,  and  this  was  the  end.  How  proud  she  always 
had  been  of  him,  and  how  perfectly  her  beauty  and 
brilliancy  would  have  crowned  his  career  —  their  lives ! 
And  now,  when  ambition's  goal  was  attained,  that  rare 
cup  of  earthly  joys  of  which  few  men  drink,  had  been 
rudely  dashed  from  her  lips. 

So  this  was  the  reward  that  had  been  reserved  for 
her  who  had  been  endowed  with  wealth  and  position, 
and  who  was  the  fairest  and  best  this  civilization  could 
produce?  Fate  had  been  kind  to  her  merely  in  order 
that  she  might  realize  to  the  utmost  the  bitterness  and 
emptiness  of  life. 

266 


WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE          267 

Life  —  what  did  it  mean,  what  did  it  hold  for  her 
now?  She  knew  as  well  as  Captain  Forest  did  that, 
strong  though  she  was,  she  was  nevertheless  too  weak  to 
share  with  him  the  life  he  had  chosen.  Civilization  and 
culture  had  prepared  her  for  everything  but  that;  the 
one  vital  essential  which  nature  alone  can  give  to  man 
was  lacking.  After  all  she  was  but  a  poor,  helpless  crea 
ture,  incapable  of  meeting  and  being  satisfied  with  the 
simple  demands  occasioned  by  the  natural  conditions  of 
man's  surroundings.  Neither  could  she  return  to  the 
old  life  again,  now  that  it  was  shorn  of  its  vital  inter 
est,  and  year  after  year  cast  her  bread  upon  the  waters 
in  the  uncertain  pursuit  of  happiness,  only  to  reap  the 
harvest  of  dead-sea  fruit  that  is  ever  borne  in  on  the 
shallow  tides  of  worldliness. 

She  recognized  in  herself  the  victim  of  a  system  of  lies 
and  frauds,  a  world  of  artificiality,  deceit  and  tawdry 
tinsel,  a  life  which,  in  spite  of  the  good  it  contains, 
makes  weaklings  of  men.  Thanks  to  her  bringing-up, 
the  sunland  of  love,  that  valley  of  the  earthly  paradise, 
was  closed  to  her  forever.  She  cursed  this  world  of 
hypocrisy  and  deception  and  all  it  contained  —  her 
friends  and  acquaintances  and  the  memory  of  her  father 
and  mother,  who  unabashed,  had  perverted  the  pure, 
unsullied  gaze  of  the  child,  directed  its  steps  in  the 
paths  trodden  by  its  degenerate  forefathers,  taught  it 
to  regard  falsehood  in  the  light  of  truth. 

Let  the  world  cry  out  in  protest  —  say  they  did  their 
best.  The  world  lies,  and  knows  it  lies.  They  did  not 
do  their  best.  They  followed  the  dictates  of  selfish 
ness,  despicable,  inherent  weakness.  But  why  had  this 


268  WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE 

come  to  her  who  had  been  a  willing  instrument,  who 
had  lent  herself  to  the  dictates  of  this  world  and  who, 
of  all  others,  was  the  most  fit  to  grace  it? 

"  I  curse  you  —  curse  you !  "  she  cried  aloud,  spring 
ing  to  her  feet  in  a  fresh  paroxysm  and  frenzy,  flinging 
her  clenched  hands  aloft,  her  features  livid  with  rage. 
But  what  did  her  mingled  transports  of  grief  and  pain 
and  anger  avail  her?  There  was  no  redress,  no  appeal 
from  the  decision  of  destiny.  It  was  fate,  and  she  had 
been  singled  out  for  the  sacrifice.  Again  she  cried  out 
in  agony  of  heart  and  soul.  Had  she  been  strong  like 
the  other  woman,  he  must  have  loved  her  —  his  love 
never  could  have  died! 

The  thought  of  Chiquita  brought  her  to  herself  in 
a  measure,  and  as  she  slowly  began  to  pace  the  floor, 
Don  Felipe's  words  came  back  to  her.  If  she  did  not 
possess  Jack,  no  other  woman  should.  Besides,  she 
knew  what  he  did  not  know  —  that  even  if  he  wished 
to,  he  could  not  marry  Chiquita.  A  grim  smile  flitted 
across  her  countenance  as  the  knowledge  of  this  fact 
flashed  through  her  mind,  the  only  ray  of  light  in  the 
chaos  into  which  she  had  been  plunged  by  that  mis 
guided,  luckless  decision  on  her  part  —  her  refusal  to 
follow  the  Captain  while  he  was  still  hers. 

She  knew  it  was  purely  revenge  that  had  prompted 
Don  Felipe  to  run  her  rival's  secret  to  earth,  and  she 
despised  him  for  it.  It  was  not  so  with  her  —  the 
thought  of  revenge  had  not  entered  into  her  calcula 
tions.  But  neither  Chiquita  nor  the  Captain  would 
escape.  It  was  justice,  nothing  more  nor  less;  for 
they,  too,  like  her,  stood  before  the  tribunal  of  destiny 


WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE  269 

and  must  bow  to  its  decrees  the  same  as  she  had  been 
forced  to  bow  to  them.  Yes,  she  would  give  the  signal 
to  Don  Felipe  that  night;  it  was  the  only  right  thing 
to  do. 

She  was  calmer  now,  and  when  Rosita  knocked 
lightly  at  her  door  and  entered  the  room  to  assist  her 
in  dressing  for  the  evening,  no  one  would  have  sus 
pected  the  ache  at  her  heart  or  the  storm-swept  soul 
which  her  calm  exterior  concealed. 


XXIX 

T)ADRE  ANTONIO  sat  before  the  open  window  in 
•*•  his  living-room  in  a  large,  comfortable  chair,  en 
joying  the  beauty  of  the  evening  and  the  fragrance  of 
the  last  flowers  in  the  garden,  waiting  for  Chiquita  to 
complete  her  toilet. 

It  was  one  of  those  soft,  balmy  autumnal  evenings, 
and  gave  promise  of  a  night  of  majesty  and  serenity 
when  the  moon  rose  in  her  full  glory  to  hold  her  silent 
watch  over  the  earth  once  more.  It  was  sweet  to 
live  on  such  a  day  as  this,  when  all  the  world  seemed 
at  peace;  and  what  a  perfect  night  for  the  fan 
dango.  Presently  the  sound  of  light  footsteps  and  the 
soft  rustle  of  a  dress  interrupted  the  train  of  his 
thoughts,  causing  him  to  turn  from  the  window  to 
Chiquita,  who,  attired  in  her  ball  dress,  entered  the 
room  and  paused  before  him. 

There  was  not  an  inharmonious  touch  in  her  attire 
of  soft  creamy  satin  and  lace,  richly  embroidered  with 
golden  flowers.  Delicate  filmy  threads  of  gold  inter 
sected  the  heavy  white  Valenciennes  lace  mantilla  at 
tached  to  her  high  silver  comb,  etched  in  gold  and 
studded  with  diminutive  diamonds,  which  sparkled  in 
the  light  like  dew  in  the  sunshine.  Her  white  satin 
slippers  and  silk  stockings,  like  her  corsage  and  saya, 
were  also  delicately  worked  in  gold.  A  sheaf  of  golden 

270 


WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE          271 

poppies  adorned  one  side  of  her  head,  nestling  close 
down  upon  her  neck  and  shoulder  in  the  folds  of  her 
jet  black  hair.  She  presented  a  truly  striking  appear 
ance,  and  Padre  Antonio  gazed  long  and  silently  at 
her,  his  keen  eyes  scanning  her  critically  from  head  to 
foot  in  an  effort  to  detect  a  fault. 

How  he  loved  his  little  girl!  It  almost  seemed  as 
though  she  were  endowed  with  something  more  than 
earthly  beauty.  In  her  the  strength  and  grace  of  the 
deer  and  panther  were  blended  with  the  ethereal  deli 
cacy  and  beauty  of  the  flower.  But  it  was  her  face  that 
bespoke  the  luminous  nature  of  the  soul  which  dwelt 
within  her.  So  close  was  the  bond  of  sympathy  and 
mutual  understanding  between  them,  that  she  instinct 
ively  half  divined  his  thoughts  and  it  gave  her  courage. 

"  Will  I  do,  Padre  mlo?  "  she  asked  with  a  slight  hes 
itancy,  smiling  and  looking  down  at  him  inquiringly. 
The  question  was  so  characteristic  of  her  that  he  could 
only  smile  in  response. 

"  Chiquita  mia  —  there's  one  thing  lacking,"  he  said 
at  length,  the  far-away,  dreamy  look  fading  from  his 
eyes. 

"  Something  lacking? "  she  repeated  in  surprise, 
turning  and  casting  an  involuntary  glance  at  the  small 
mirror  on  the  wall  opposite  in  a  vain  effort  to  catch  a 
full  view  of  herself. 

"  Yes,  Senorita,"  he  answered  knowingly,  almost 
mysteriously.  "  But  it's  not  your  fault.  It  sometimes 
takes  the  discerning  eye  of  a  man  to  perceive  what  a 
woman's  toilet  lacks." 

What  can  it  be,  she  asked  herself,  looking  wonder- 


272  WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE 

ingly  and  inquiringly  up  into  his  face,  and  then  turn 
ing  to  follow  him  with  her  gaze  as,  without  further  com 
ment,  he  left  the  room  and  slowly  ascended  the  stairs  to 
his  study  on  the  floor  above.  He  paused  for  an  in 
stant  on  entering  the  room,  then  walked  straight  to  his 
desk  at  the  other  end;  a  large  upright  piece  of  furni 
ture  of  ancient  pine  made  in  the  mission  style  and 
stained  dark  to  represent  oak,  which,  owing  to  its  age, 
it  closely  resembled.  Pulling  out  the  middle  drawer, 
he  pushed  back  a  secret  panel  on  the  inside,  disclosing 
an  opening  in  the  back  of  the  desk  from  which  he  drew 
a  small  sandalwood  box  which,  on  being  opened,  con 
tained  a  silver  casket,  richly  chased  and  of  an  antique 
design. 

Years  had  elapsed  since  he  last  looked  upon  it,  and 
he  regarded  it  curiously  for  some  moments  as  he  held 
it  in  his  hands.  Then  setting  it  down  upon  the  desk,  he 
turned  the  small  key  which  unlocked  it  and  raised  the 
lid,  disclosing  its  contents,  which  consisted  of  a  fan,  a 
bracelet  of  six  strands  of  large  pearls  with  a  diamond 
clasp  in  the  shape  of  a  crown,  and  a  long,  magnificent 
necklace  of  still  larger  pearls,  also  composed  of  six 
strands,  like  the  bracelet,  and  a  large  diamond  slide  also 
in  the  shape  of  a  crown.  The  fan  was  one  of  those  ex 
quisite,  daintily  hand-painted  French  creations  of 
ivory,  lace  and  vellum  of  a  century  gone  by.  On  one 
of  the  outer  ribs  was  also  a  small  diamond  crown  and 
on  the  other  was  traced  a  name  in  letters  of  gold.  A 
delicate  fragrance  like  that  of  withered  rose  leaves 
escaped  the  casket,  and,  as  he  silently  contemplated  its 
contents,  his  gaze  fell  upon  the  name  on  the  fan  —  Chi- 


'Instinctively  he  raised  the  casket  with  both  hands.' 


Page  27: 


WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE          273 

quita  Pia  Maria  Roxan  Concepcion  Salvatore  —  the 
name  was  much  longer,  but  his  eyes  dimmed  —  he 
could  read  no  further. 

Instinctively  he  raised  the  casket  with  both  hands 
and  was  in  the  act  of  pressing  his  lips  to  its  contents, 
when  he  caught  sight  of  a  crucifix  on  the  desk  in  front 
of  him,  causing  him  to  pause,  cross  himself  reverently 
and  lower  the  casket  again. 

Who  was  Padre  Antonio?  Involuntarily  his  thoughts 
traveled  back  over  the  stream  of  years  when,  as  a  youth 
of  twenty,  he  bade  farewell  to  old  Spain  forever 
and  with  a  heavy  heart  set  forth  alone  to  find  God  and 
peace  in  the  wilderness  of  the  new  world.  Fifty  years 
had  passed  since  then  and  with  them,  the  secret  and 
tragedy  of  his  life  lay  buried. 

He  heaved  a  deep  sigh  and,  picking  up  the  casket, 
turned  toward  the  door.  Chiquita  listened  to  the  sound 
of  his  footsteps  as  he  slowly  descended  the  stairs,  and 
gazed  in  wonderment  at  the  casket  he  held  in  his  hand 
when  he  reentered  the  room.  Without  a  word,  he  de 
posited  it  upon  the  table  in  the  center  of  the  room  and, 
raising  the  lid,  displayed  its  contents  to  the  dazzled  eyes 
of  his  ward.  Never  had  she  beheld  such  wonderful  jew 
els  —  what  did  it  mean  ? 

"  Padre  mio!  "  she  gasped,  her  eyes  wandering  ques- 
tioningly  from  the  casket  to  his  face,  which  appeared  a 
little  paler  than  when  he  left  the  room  but  a  few  minutes 
before. 

"  I  never  imagined  that  another  woman  would  ever  be 
created  worthy  to  wear  them,"  he  said  quietly,  picking 
up  the  bracelet  and  fastening  it  about  her  left  wrist,  and 


274  WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE 

winding  the  necklace  twice  round  her  throat,  the  ends 
falling  down  over  her  bosom  to  her  waist.  "  May 
God's  blesing  forever  rest  upon  you,  my  child,"  he  added, 
making  the  sign  of  the  cross  above  her,  and  stooping, 
he  kissed  her  lightly  on  the  forehead. 

Involuntarily  her  hand  went  out  for  the  fan,  and  as 
her  eyes  fell  on  the  name  upon  it,  her  woman's  instinct 
told  her  all. 

"  Padre  —  Padre  mio!  "  she  cried,  and  throwing  her 
arms  about  his  neck,  burst  into  a  passionate  flood  of 
tears  on  his  breast. 

"  There,  there,  my  child !  "  he  said  at  last,  regain 
ing  his  accustomed  composure.  "  I  now  know  why  I 
was  never  able  to  part  with  them  —  not  even  to  the 
Church.  I  was  keeping  them  for  you." 

"  But  I'm  not  worthy  to  wear  them,  Padre !  "  she  ex^ 
claimed. 

"Tut,  tut!"  he  replied.  "The  ways  of  God  are 
past  all  understanding.  When  I  think  of  how  you  came 
to  me  unsought  and  unbidden,  and  now,  how  Captain 
Forest  of  a  different  race  — " 

"  Oh,  Padre,  do  you  think  I  stand  a  chance  of  win 
ning  him?"  she  interrupted,  looking  inquiringly  up 
into  his  face  as  if  to  read  the  answer  there. 

"  Ah !  that  is  a  difficult  question,  my  child.  Love  and 
intrigue  are  such  uncertain  quantities  to  deal  with,  you 
know.  Yet  it  seems  strange  that  he  should  have  come 
into  your  life  at  this  juncture.  Captain  Forest,"  he 
went  on  after  a  pause,  "  is  a  great  man.  As  you  know, 
we  have  talked  much  together  of  late  on  that  most  in 
teresting  of  all  topics  —  life.  And  it  seems  to  me  that 


WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE  275 

if  ever  God  had  plainly  indicated  his  wish,  you  hare 
been  reserved  for  one  another  to  perform  his  will.  Of 
course,  I  can  not  say  this  for  a  certainty,  but  it  ap 
pears  so  to  me,  and  to  see  your  hands  and  hearts  joined 
together  will  be  the  crowning  joy  of  my  life — "  Sud 
denly  his  left  hand  went  to  his  heart,  where  he  experi 
enced  a  sharp  pain.  A  dizziness  seized  him,  causing 
him  to  lean  heavily  upon  her  for  support. 

"  Padre  mlo  —  what  is  it  ?  "  she  cried  in  alarm. 
"  You  are  not  well !  We'll  not  go  to  the  fiesta  to-night 
—  'tis  better  we  remain  at  home !  " 

"  It's  nothing  —  nothing,  my  child,"  he  answered, 
after  the  dizziness  had  passed.  "  It's  only  a  slight  at 
tack  of  indigestion,  like  the  one  I  had  last  summer 
while  engaged  in  the  mission  work.  You  know,"  he 
added  lightly,  "  I'm  no  longer  as  young  as  I  was  —  such 
things  must  be  expected."  All  day  long  she  had  experi 
enced  a  dread  of  impending  disaster  which  she  could  not 
shake  off,  and  which  she  naturally  connected  with  Don 
Felipe.  But  why  go  to  the  Posada  that  evening  if 
Padre  Antonio  was  not  feeling  well  —  there  would  be 
other  days. 

Again  she  protested  and  urged  him  to  remain  at 
home,  but  in  vain  —  he  would  not  hear  of  it. 

"  It  will  do  me  good  to  go,"  he  said,  helping  her  on 
with  her  long  white  silk  Spanish  mantle,  embroidered 
with  gold  and  lace  to  match  her  dress.  Then,  drawing 
on  his  black  silk  gloves,  he  picked  up  his  hat  and  stick, 
and  they  passed  out  into  the  garden  and  through  the 
tall  iron  gate,  turning  their  steps  in  the  direction  of 
the  Posada. 


XXX 

garden  and  patio  of  the  Posada  were  hung  with 
•*•     many  lanterns  whose  light,  in  addition  to  that  of 
the  stars  and  the  full  moon,  made  them  appear  as  bright 
as  day. 

Mrs.  Forest  maintained  a  frigid  attitude  toward  the 
world  throughout  the  evening.  Inwardly  she  longed 
to  be  gay  like  the  others,  but  prudery  and  short 
sightedness,  the  fruits  of  her  training,  prevailed,  ef 
fectually  debarring  her  from  all  enjoyment  and  leav 
ing  her  cold  and  isolated  like  one  afflicted  with  the 
plague.  Could  she  have  followed  the  dictates  of  her 
wishes,  she  would  have  remained  within  the  seclusion 
of  her  room  during  the  entire  evening,  but  not  being 
able  to  reconcile  such  a  course  with  the  duties  of  a 
chaperon,  she  was  obliged  to  appear.  If  noblesse 
oblige  demanded  that  she  should  sacrifice  herself,  suffer 
the  martyred  isolation  of  patience  on  a  monument,  then 
be  it  so ! 

As  for  Colonel  Van  Ashton,  he  had  suffered  long 
enough.  He  secretly  despised  his  sister's  prudery 
though  he  dared  not  acknowledge  it.  Anything  to 
break  the  infernal  monotony!  He  welcomed  this  oc 
casion  of  mild  revelry  with  sensations  akin  to  those 
of  a  boy's  during  the  advent  of  a  circus  in  his  town. 
Of  all  the  State  and  grand  social  functions  in  which 

276 


WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE  277 

he  had  participated,  not  one,  so  far  as  he  could  re 
member,  had  ever  inspired  him  with  such  anticipations. 
An  indescribable  joy  and  spirit  of  recklessness,  born 
of  desperation,  filled  him,  and  he  silently  vowed  that 
he  would  drink  to  the  moon  that  night  even  though 
there  might  perchance  be  blood  upon  it. 

Owing  to  the  attack  of  dizziness  which  had  occas 
ioned  a  slight  delay,  Padre  Antonio  and  his  ward  were 
the  last  of  the  guests  to  arrive.  Low  murmurs  and 
suppressed  exclamations  escaped  the  Spanish  element  of 
the  assembly  as  Chiquita  entered  the  patio  on  the 
padre's  arm.  If  they  had  been  enraptured  by  the 
beauty  of  Blanch  and  Bessie  and  loud  in  their  praises 
of  their  jewels  and  exquisite  gowns,  they  were  crushed 
by  Chiquita's  appearance,  clad  as  she  was  in  white  and 
gold,  a  dress  they  had  never  seen  before,  and  adorned 
with  jewels,  the  magnificence  of  which  they  had  not 
dreamed. 

At  last  the  mystery  of  the  golden  pesos  was  solved 
—  the  jewels  of  course!  A  great  weight  slipped  from 
the  souls  of  the  Spanish  women  as  they  gazed  in  envy 
and  amazement  upon  the  person  they  hated  most  in  all 
the  world. 

Happy,  blissful  ignorance  —  thrice  blessed  by  the 
gods  were  they !  Those  golden  pesos  would  not  have 
purchased  a  single  strand  in  her  bracelet,  while  as  to 
the  necklace,  its  value  would  have  purchased  the  en 
tire  Posada  and  many  broad  acres  besides.  Don  Felipe 
and  the  Americans  had  seen  such  jewels  before  in  the 
world  of  fashion,  but  how  came  Chiquita  by  them? 
Who  was  she?  Blanch  and  Bessie  began  asking  them- 


278          WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE 

selves.  That  she  had  timed  her  entrance  well,  all  ad 
mitted  ;  though  in  reality  she  had  thought  nothing  about 
it  —  chance  had  favored  her,  that  was  all.  Interesting 
though  the  subject  under  discussion  had  become,  there 
was  little  time  left  the  company  for  further  specula 
tion  before  Juan  Ramon,  the  major-domo,  announced 
supper. 

The  musicians  struck  up  a  lively  Spanish  air.  The 
night  was  mild  and  soft,  the  stars  and  moon  glittered 
overhead,  the  wine  flowed  and  the  sounds  of  laughter 
and  gay,  merry  voices  echoed  throughout  the  patio. 
The  company  sat  long  at  the  tables,  tempted  by  in 
numerable  dainties,  and  encouraged  and  soothed  by  the 
wine,  the  night  and  soft  strains  of  music.  Not  even 
in  the  old  days  had  the  Posada  witnessed  a  gayer  scene. 
Indeed,  for  the  time  being,  they  had  returned  like  a 
far-off  echo  of  those  times  when  Dona  Fernandez 
reigned  supreme  in  her  beauty  and  men  admired  and 
flattered  and  paid  homage  to  her.  Little  wonder  she 
sighed  in  the  midst  of  the  gayety  and  alternately  flushed 
and  paled  as  her  thoughts  traveled  back  over  the  years. 

Don  Felipe  was  in  an  exultant  mood.  That  morn 
ing  his  horse  had  stumbled  and  later,  while  dressing 
for  the  evening,  a  bat  flitted  in  and  out  of  his  room 
through  the  open  window.  The  fact  that  these  two 
signs  of  ill  omen  did  not  affect  a  mind  ordinarily  sub 
ject  to  the  influence  of  superstition,  showed  the  state 
of  his  confidence.  He  drank  freely  of  the  wine  and 
laughed  and  talked  incessantly.  What  an  opportunity 
to  spring  the  trap  he  had  laid  for  Chiquita ! 

"  If  Captain  Forest  proposes  to  her  to-night,  she'll 


WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE  279 

never  lift  her  eyes  to  the  world  again,"  he  whispered 
to  Blanch  beside  whom  he  sat. 

"  What  do  you  propose  doing?  "  she  asked. 

"  Have  patience,"  he  answered,  his  face  lighting  up 
with  an  expression  of  malicious  joy.  "  Of  course,  it  all 
depends  whether  you  give  the  signal  or  not." 

"  I  came  here  with  the  intention  of  doing  so,"  she 
confessed.  "  But  everybody  seems  so  happy.  Why 
not  let  the  evening  pass  pleasantly?  It  would  be  a 
pity  to  mar  its  harmony." 

"  Mere  sentiment !  "  he  replied.  "  Do  you  think  she 
would  show  you  such  consideration?  I  assure  you, 
to-night  is  the  time  of  all  times !  "  There  was  some 
thing  so  malicious,  so  weird  in  his  tone  and  manner  that 
she  shuddered  as  she  listened  to  his  words.  In  spite 
of  her  humiliation,  her  bitterness  and  suffering,  and 
her  desire  for  retribution,  she  never  realized  that  one 
could  find  such  sweet  satisfaction  in  revenge  as  did  Don 
Felipe.  The  prospect  of  it  filled  him  with  a  joy  that 
seemed  almost  devilish  at  times. 

At  length  the  tables  were  cleared,  and  coffee,  liqueurs, 
cigars  and  cigarettes  served,  Blanch  and  Bessie,  like 
the  Spanish  women,  indulging  in  the  latter.  In  fact, 
everybody,  with  the  exception  of  Mrs.  Forest,  smoked. 
The  musicians  were  ranged  in  a  semicircle  across  the 
upper  end  of  the  patio  opposite  the  garden  and  con 
tinued  to  render  national  and  Spanish  airs  upon  their 
instruments  while  the  company  smoked  and  sipped  coffee 
and  liqueurs.  And  by  the  time  the  men  had  finished 
their  first  cigars,  the  different  artists,  dancers  and  sing 
ers,  who  had  been  engaged  for  the  occasion,  came  for- 


280  WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE 

ward  and  began  to  display  their  talent,  adding  to  the 
novelty  and  gayety  of  the  evening.  Considering  the 
time  and  the  place,  they  did  well  enough  in  their  way 
and  were  quite  picturesque  and  pleasing  as  a  whole, 
but  at  no  time  did  their  performance  rise  above  the 
level  of  mediocrity,  such  as  one  was  accustomed  to  see 
anywhere  in  the  world  on  the  vaudeville  stage.  At 
the  end  of  an  hour,  Blanch  felt  that  the  moment  had 
arrived  to  ask  Chiquita  to  dance.  So,  without  impart 
ing  her  intention  to  any  one,  she  rose  from  her  chair 
and  walked  over  to  where  Chiquita  sat  conversing  with 
the  Captain  and  Don  Agusto  Revera,  Alcalde  of  Santa 
Fe\ 

"  We  have  heard  so  much  about  your  dancing, 
Senorita,"  she  began,  interrupting  the  conversation. 
"  Won't  you  favor  us  with  a  dance  to-night?  " 

"A  dance?"  repeated  Chiquita  with  a  little  start 
of  surprise,  the  request  coming  from  Blanch  was  so 
unexpected.  She  seemed  confused,  and  her  face  wore 
a  troubled  look.  "  I  would  rather  not,"  she  said  at 
length,  glancing  nervously  about  her  at  the  company. 
She  had  heard  the  cruel  things  that  had  been  said  of 
her  of  late  and  knew  how  ready  those  present  would 
be  to  criticize  her  anew. 

"  Do  dance,  Senorita ;  just  to  please  me,  if  for  noth 
ing  else,"  persisted  Blanch. 

"To  please  you?"  repeated  Chiquita.  A  peculiar 
light  came  into  her  eyes  and  she  smiled  as  though 
pleased  by  the  request. 

"  I  hope  I'm  not  asking  too  much? "  continued 
Blanch.  Again  Chiquita  smiled. 


281 

"  Do  you  know,"  she  answered  with  warmth,  "  there's 
only  one  thing  in  this  world  I  wouldn't  do  for  you?  " 
and  she  laughed  lightly,  nervously  opening  and  clos 
ing  her  fan  the  while.  Again  she  glanced  around  at 
the  company,  wavering  between  assent  and  refusal.  In 
the  faces  of  the  women  she  read  the  jealousy  and  envy 
which  filled  their  hearts  toward  her,  and  it  was  perhaps 
that,  not  Blanch's  request,  which  decided  her  to  dance. 

"  Yes,  Senorita,"  she  said  at  length.  "  I'll  dance  for 
you  this  night  —  for  you  only !  "  she  repeated  with 
emphasis.  Yes,  she  would  dance  as  she  had  never 
danced  before;  for  would  not  the  most  critical  eye  in 
the  world  be  watching  her?  It  was  worth  while. 
Blanch  gave  a  little  laugh  as  she  returned  to  her  seat 
by  the  side  of  Don  Felipe. 

Ah !  the  wiles  of  woman  —  subtle  and  illusive  as  a 
breath  or  a  shadow  —  the  one  thing  her  own  sex  fears 
most !  Blanch  knew  that  if  there  was  a  common  streak 
in  her  rival,  it  would  be  brought  out  in  the  glaring 
reality  of  the  dance,  and  the  Captain  should  see  it. 
She  knew  he  could  never  marry  any  one  but  a  lady, 
and  this  was  her  reason  for  asking  Chiquita  to  dance. 
She  had  in  mind,  of  course,  the  performances  she  had 
just  witnessed,  or,  to  be  more  exact,  the  contortions  of 
the  ballet  and  the  modern  music-hall  artist  with  which 
we  are  all  so  familiar;  the  inane  balancing  and  pirouet 
ting  on  the  toes,  the  heavy  hip  and  protruding  stomach, 
quivering  breasts  and  bellowing  and  frothing  at  the 
mouth,  and  colored  light  effects  and  risque  posing  in 
scant  attire,  coupled  with  a  display  of  attractive  lin 
gerie.  But  Blanch  forgot,  or  rather  did  not  know,  that 


282  WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE 

she  had  to  do  with  genius  over  whose  individuality 
most  men  are  prone  to  trip. 

Chiquita's  conception  of  plastic  art  was  something  dif 
ferent  from  vulgar  Salome  creations  and  the  cheap 
spring-song  and  lolling  and  capering  of  the  fatted  calf 
just  alluded  to.  Had  Don  Felipe  cherished  a  ray  of 
hope  of  reinstating  himself  in  Chiquita's  eyes,  he  would 
have  done  all  in  his  power  to  prevent  her  dancing,  but, 
as  matters  stood,  he  welcomed  it  with  enthusiasm,  for 
he  knew  that  she  would  be  irresistible  —  that  Captain 
Forest  would  be  ravished  by  her  enchanting  creation 
and  alluring  beauty  as  she  glided  through  the  intricate 
mazes  of  the  dance  in  the  moonlight.  He  had  felt  that 
spell,  and  knew  its  irresistible  charm. 

The  announcement  that  Chiquita  was  going  to  dance 
caused  a  stir  among  the  company.  A  large  dark  blue 
Indian  rug  which  shone  black  in  the  moonlight,  was 
brought  from  the  living-room  of  the  house  by  the  serv 
ants  and  spread  out  upon  the  patio's  pavement.  A 
murmur  of  approbation  arose  from  the  Mexicans  when 
the  first  bars  of  music  announced  the  dance  she  had 
chosen.  It  was  the  famous  "  Andalusia  " —  the  most 
difficult  and  intricate  of  all  Spanish-Moorish  dances; 
the  one  in  which  few  dancers  have  ever  excelled  for  the 
reason  that  its  beauty  lies  not  so  much  in  its  intricacy 
of  form  as  in  the  poetic  conception  and  free  interpre 
tation  of  the  artist.  Besides,  the  dance  called  for  two 
parts,  obliging  her  to  execute  the  part  of  her  supposed 
partner  as  well.  The  dance  opened  with  the  song  of 
a  Torero  who  had  repaired  in  the  dusk  to  the  hills 
overlooking  Granada  where  dwelt  his  sweetheart. 


WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE  283 

With  a  coquettish  little  laugh  and  toss  of  the  head, 
she  tossed  her  fan  to  Captain  Forest  who  caught  it 
and  held  it  in  his  hand  as  he  would  a  flower.  Then, 
after  some  words  of  direction  to  the  musicians,  she 
stepped  upon  the  end  of  the  rug  nearest  them,  and  to 
the  amazement  of  the  Americans,  lightly  kicked  off  her 
slippers,  displaying  a  pair  of  small,  slender,  exquisitely 
formed  feet  and  ankles.  Only  amateurs  have  the  cour 
age  to  dance  in  shoes.  Even  that  strict  and  stilted  in 
stitution,  the  ballet,  was  forced  generations  ago  to  break 
through  its  time-honored  traditions  by  abandoning  heels 
as  useless  appendages.  Had  she  been  on  the  stage, 
she  would  have  danced  in  her  bare  feet  as  she  had  done 
on  the  night  of  the  fiesta  when  Captain  Forest  had  seen 
her. 

A  smile  rested  on  her  face  and  she  nodded  her  head 
lightly  to  the  time  of  the  music  as  she  stood  erect  in 
the  full  flood  of  moonlight,  tall  and  slender  as  a  lily. 

"  Thy  face,  Sweetheart,  haunts  me  amid  the  dust  and 
glare  of  the  arena !  "  she  began  in  her  deep  rich  con 
tralto  voice,  at  the  first  notes  of  which  everybody  sat 
up  straight  and  listened  to  the  volume  of  swelling  sounds 
which  filled  the  court  and  garden  and  floated  away  on 
the  night.  There  was  no  mistaking  the  fact,  they  were 
in  the  presence  of  an  artist. 

"  I  await  thee,  Beloved,  in  the  hills,  in  the  hour  of 
our  tryst !  "  came  the  far-away  answer  of  the  woman's 
voice,  faint  and  plaintive  as  an  echo,  soft  and  sweet 
and  clear  as  the  notes  of  the  skylark,  falling  in  silvery, 
rippling  cadences  of  melody  from  out  the  gold,  blue 
vault  of  heaven  above. 


284  WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE 

"  Nearer  and  nearer  love  guideth  our  steps, 
On  the  hills  we  shall  dance,  chant  our  song  of 
Delight  'neath  the  silvery  stars  and  the 
Mellow  gold  horn  of  the  soft  shining  moon. 

"  'Neath  the  silvery  stars,  and  the  mellow  gold  horn 
of  the  soft  shining  moon,"  echoed  the  musical  refrain 
and  chorus  of  musicians.  Nearer  and  nearer  drew  the 
answering  echoes  of  the  lovers'  voices  until  they  met 
in  the  hills  and  the  dancing  began. 

So  realistic  and  dramatic  was  her  rendering  of  the 
song,  that  the  listeners  saw  the  progress  of  the  lovers 
and  felt  the  thrill  and  rapture  of  their  meeting.  Up 
to  this  point  she  had  held  herself  in  abeyance,  but  with 
the  opening  bars  of  the  dance,  she  suddenly  became 
transformed,  electrified.  Her  whole  being  became  suf 
fused  with  the  vibrant,  passionate  intensity  of  the 
South,  and  then  they  witnessed  an  exhibition  that  was 
beautiful  and  wonderful  in  its  poetic  conception. 

A  thrill  of  rapturous,  exquisite  emotion  swept  over 
them,  as  suddenly  and  without  warning,  she  threw  back 
her  head  and  sprang  to  the  center  of  the  rug  with  a 
swift,  whirling  motion,  the  effect  of  which  was  like  a 
shower  of  sparks  or  a  jet  of  glittering  spray  tossed 
unexpectedly  into  the  air  from  a  fountain,  expressive 
of  the  abandon  and  exuberance  felt  by  the  lovers  as  they 
met  in  the  dance. 

Again,  without  warning,  she  paused  as  abruptly  as 
she  began,  and  with  short,  interluding  snatches  of  song, 
slowly  began  to  sway  to  the  soft  rhythm  of  the  music 
and  sharp  click  of  her  castanets.  First  slowly,  then 
swifter  and  swifter  she  glided  and  whirled  noiselessly 


WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE          285 

in  the  moonlight,  graceful  as  a  wind-blown  rose,  or  sud 
denly  paused,  languid  and  sensuous,  according  to  the 
rhapsodic  character  of  the  dance  when  the  music  ceased 
altogether  and  naught  was  heard  save  the  plashing  of 
the  fountain  in  the  patio,  the  click  of  her  castanets  and 
the  soft  swish  of  her  silken  saya  which  seemed  to  whisper 
and  sigh  like  a  living  thing,  like  the  mythical  voices 
of  Lilith's  hair.  Like  a  musician  transposing  upon  a 
theme,  she  introduced  new  and  elaborate  motives  of  her 
own  until,  at  a  sign  from  her,  the  music  took  up  the 
principal  theme  of  the  dance  once  more. 

Captain  Forest  had  seen  practically  all  the  great 
dancers  of  our  time,  the  Geisha  and  Nautch  girls  of 
the  East,  the  Gypsies  from  Granada  to  St.  Petersburg, 
and  the  Bedouin  women  dance  naked  on  the  sands  of 
the  Sahara  beneath  the  stars  while  celebrating  the 
sacred  rites  of  their  festivals,  but  it  soon  became  ap 
parent  that,  all  with  few  exceptions,  were  mere  novices 
in  comparison,  and  stood  in  about  the  same  relation  to 
her  as  a  dilettante  does  to  an  artist. 

She  lifted  the  dance  above  the  portrayal  of  sensuous 
emotion  into  the  realms  of  poetry.  The  wild  spirit  of 
the  Gypsy,  captivating,  fresh  and  invigorating  and 
compelling  as  the  winds  of  the  mighty  Sierras  and 
plains  of  the  land  she  inhabited,  enveloped  and  animated 
her.  The  rushing,  whirling  climaxes  up  to  which  she 
worked  were  startling  —  tremendous.  The  subtle,  hyp 
notic  influence  and  witchery  of  her  presence  filled  her 
entire  surroundings  and  so  held  and  dominated  the  spec 
tators  that  they  were  swept  irresistibly  along  with  her 
as  the  rhythm  of  the  dance  increased.  She  swayed  and 


286  WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE 

enthralled  the  imagination  and  emotions  with  a  su 
premacy  akin  to  that  of  music  or  the  noblest  landscape. 
The  mastery  of  every  motion,  every  fleeting  expression 
but  increased  the  impression  she  endeavored  to  convey 
—  the  intensity  of  life,  vibrant,  joyous  life. 

The  soft,  rhythmic  undulations  of  her  graceful,  sin 
uous  body,  vibrating  and  pulsating  with  the  ecstatic, 
rapturous  emotion  inspired  by  the  music  and  the  dance, 
were  a  revelation  of  beauty.  She  became  the  living  ex 
pression  of  rhythm  and  grace  as  she  paused  for  an  in 
stant  before  them,  scintillating  and  quivering  like  an 
aspen  leaf,  or  glided  and  whirled  wraith-like,  fragile 
and  delicate  and  ethereal,  wondrously  lithe  and  airy  like 
films  of  gossamer  or  foam  tossed  up  by  the  sea.  The 
dance  itself  seemed  to  fade  into  the  background  as 
their  attention  became  riveted  upon  her,  and  visions  and 
vistas  of  life  rose  before  the  imagination  instead. 

She  danced  with  her  soul,  not  with  her  feet;  became 
the  living  incarnation  of  the  ancients'  conception  of 
plastic  creation,  enchanting,  intoxicating.  They  heard 
the  myriad  voices  of  spring,  the  voices  of  birds  and 
insects  and  the  sound  of  falling  waters ;  beheld  the 
Elysian,  flower-strewn  fields  of  youth,  recalling  the  im 
mortal,  fairy  days  of  childhood  and  with  them  their 
golden  dreams,  and  experienced  the  sweetness  and  bit 
terness  of  unfulfilled  longings  and  aspirations  of  later 
years.  All  felt  that  it  was  an  event  of  a  lifetime  — 
one  of  those  hours  that  would  never  again  return. 

The  company  gave  vent  to  its  emotion  in  alternate 
exclamations  of  enthusiasm  or  sighs  as  it  was  swept  ir 
resistibly  along  by  the  buoyancy  and  captivating  crea- 


287 

tion  of  the  dancer.  Two  bright  tears  stood  in  Padre 
Antonio's  eyes  as  he  gazed  upon  the  object  of  his  love 
and  pride.  Don  Felipe  forgot  his  hatred  for  the  mo 
ment  and  gazed  enraptured,  drinking  in  with  eyes  and 
soul  the  enchanting  vision  before  him.  The  heart  of 
Blanch  grew  cold  as  ice  as  she,  like  the  rest,  looked 
on  entranced  in  spite  of  herself  by  the  witchery  of  her 
rival,  for  she  knew  she  had  blundered  again,  that  she 
had  lost,  that  Chiquita  was  transformed  —  irresistible. 
The  blood  seemed  to  freeze  in  her  veins  as  the  truth 
was  borne  in  upon  her.  She  longed  to  scream,  to  rush 
forward  and  stop  her  —  anything  to  break  the  spell, 
but  in  vain.  Helpless  and  immovable  she  was  forced 
to  look  on;  see  the  prize  of  life  slip  slowly  from  her 
grasp. 

Again  Captain  Forest  beheld  the  mighty  expanse  of 
mountain  and  plain,  heard  the  lashing  of  the  sea  and 
the  myriad  voices  of  the  singing  stars  as  they  whirled 
in  their  courses  through  space  —  listened  to  the  chant 
of  life.  Yes,  she  was  the  ideal,  the  living  incarnation 
of  nature,  the  Golden  Girl  with  the  white  starry  flower  on 
her  breast  who  was  awaiting  his  coming,  the  woman 
of  Jose's  dream  to  whom  he  had  been  guided  uncon 
sciously  by  the  hand  of  the  Unseen.  No  wonder  he  had 
failed  to  find  the  place  of  his  dreams ;  without  knowing 
it,  he  had  been  waiting  for  her.  But  now  all  was 
changed.  The  earth  had  become  their  footstool ;  the  old 
life  had  come  to  an  end. 


XXXI 

A  SIGH  of  regret  escaped  the  company  as  the  dance 
ceased.  Blanch  turned  to  speak  to  Don  Felipe, 
but  he  was  no  longer  by  her  side  —  he  had  vanished. 
The  musicians  struck  up  a  waltz.  It  was  now  the  turn 
of  the  guests  to  dance  if  they  chose ;  a  privilege  of  which 
they  were  not  slow  to  avail  themselves. 

Captain  Forest  crossed  over  to  where  Chiquita  sat, 
resting  after  the  exertion  of  the  dance. 

"  I'm  sure  you've  had  enough  dancing  this  evening, 
Senorita,"  he  said,  handing  her  her  fan.  "  Let  us  go 
into  the  garden;  it's  quieter  there."  His  words  filled 
her  with  a  tumult  of  emotion.  She  realized  that  the 
moment  for  which  she  had  been  waiting  had  arrived. 
She  looked  up  at  him  without  replying,  then  rose  from 
her  seat,  and  the  two  quietly  left  the  patio,  disappear 
ing  among  the  shrubbery  and  the  shadows. 

Neither  spoke.  Each  guessed  the  other's  thoughts, 
and  they  walked  on  in  silence  until  they  came  to  an 
open  circular  space  surrounded  by  trees  and  flooded  by 
moonlight,  where,  as  if  moved  by  a  common  impulse, 
they  halted.  Without  a  word  he  turned  and  silently 
folded  her  in  his  arms. 

"  Jack  — "  she  murmured. 

"  Chiquita  mia,"  he  said  at  length,  gazing  down  into 
her  upturned  face  where  the  dusk  and  the  moon-fire 

288 


289 

met  and  blended  in  a  radiance  of  unearthly  beauty,  "  is 
it  not  wonderful  that,  all  unwittingly  and  unconscious 
of  each  other's  existence,  we  have  been  brought  to 
gether  from  the  ends  of  the  earth  ?  "  She  was  about 
to  reply  when  a  voice,  close  at  hand,  cut  her  short. 
It  was  Don  Felipe's. 

"  A  pretty  sentiment,  Captain  Forest,"  he  said,  step 
ping  out  into  the  light  before  them.  "  I  wish  I  might 
congratulate  you,  but  you  will  never  marry  her." 

"  How  dare  you !  "  cried  the  Captain  furiously,  ad 
vancing  toward  him  with  flushed  face  and  clenched 
hands.  Chiquita  started  violently  at  the  sound  of  Don 
Felipe's  voice.  The  apprehension  of  an  inpending 
catastrophe  that  had  oppressed  her  during  the  day,  but 
which  she  had  forgotten  during  the  excitement  of  the 
dance,  again  took  possession  of  her. 

"  I  apologize  most  humbly  for  intruding  on  your 
privacy,"  answered  Don  Felipe,  meeting  the  Captain's 
gaze  unflinchingly,  "  but  as  one  who  wishes  you  well, 
I  could  not  stand  quietly  by  and  see  a  man  like  you 
cunningly  tricked  by  this  woman." 

"What  do  you  mean?"  asked  the  Captain,  his  eyes 
blazing  and  his  voice  almost  beyond  control. 

"  Chance  or  fortune,  which  ever  you  may  choose  to 
call  it,  has  recently  placed  certain  information  in  my 
possession  which  will  entirely  preclude  any  thought  on 
your  part  of  marrying  her."  What  can  he  mean, 
Chiquita  asked  herself.  She  had  expected  an  attack  on 
the  Captain  and  was  prepared  for  it,  but  this  —  what 
was  it? 

"  You  perhaps  already  know,"  continued  Don  Felipe 


290  WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE 

coolly,  "  that  this  woman  and  I  were  once  betrothed  to 
one  another,  but  had  I  at  that  time  known  what  I  now 
know  of  her,  such  a  thing  as  a  betrothal  would  have 
been  out  of  the  question." 

44  And  this  information?"  interrogated  the  Captain. 

"  It  is  very  simple,  Captain  Forest,"  replied  Don 
Felipe,  slowly  and  firmly.  "  The  Senorita  Chiquita  is 

—  the  mother  of  a  child." 

"  The  mother  of  a  child  ?  "  cried  Chiquita  in  astonish 
ment.  "  You  lie !  "  His  words  were  like  a  blow  in  the 
face  to  the  Captain.  For  an  instant  the  world  seemed 
to  swim  before  his  eyes,  but  only  for  an  instant.  Had 
he  rushed  upon  Don  Felipe  then  and  there  as  he  felt 
impelled,  it  would  have  been  what  the  latter  most  wished 
him  to  do.  He  would  have  then  had  sufficient  provo 
cation  to  kill  him  on  the  spot.  But  a  lion  never  springs 
before  he  has  taken  the  measure  of  his  leap. 

"  Don  Felipe  Ramirez,"  said  Captain  Forest  at 
length,  in  a  hoarse,  half-audible  voice,  "  unless  you 
give  me  instant  proof  of  what  you  say,  either  you  or 
I  shall  never  leave  this  place  alive !  Understand,"  he 
continued,  "  that  when  I  ask  you  for  proof,  it  is  not 
because  I  doubt  this  woman,  but  that  your  life  and 
mine  are  at  stake." 

"  Well  spoken,  Captain  Forest,"  returned  Don  Felipe. 
"  'Tis  the  answer  I  expected ;  the  utterance  of  a  gentle 
man,  a  Caballero!  You  shall  have  the  proof  you  desire 

—  the   living  proof,   Captain   Forest,"   he   added   with 
emphasis. 

"  Proof?  "  exclaimed  Chiquita  in  amazement.  "  Are 
you  bereft  of  your  senses,  Don  Felipe  Ramirez  ?  " 


WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE  291 

"  Ah !  you  have  played  your  part  well  these  many 
years,  Scnorita.  It  is  now  my  turn  to  cut  the  cards. 
If  you  will  return  to  the  patio  — "  he  continued,  turn 
ing  to  the  Captain. 

"  Why  not  here  ?  "  asked  the  latter. 

"  Because  the  proof  which  you  desire  awaits  you 
there."  The  Captain  was  about  to  protest  further, 
when  Chiquita  interposed. 

"  Come !  "  she  said,  and  without  further  words,  turned 
and  silently  led  the  way  back  to  the  patio  followed  by 
Don  Felipe  and  the  Captain,  the  latter  scarcely  able 
to  control  his  desire  to  seize  Don  Felipe  by  the  throat 
and  choke  the  breath  out  of  his  body.  She  knew  that 
Don  Felipe  had  laid  a  most  ingenious  trap  for  her; 
that  was  to  be  expected.  But  what  form  it  would  take, 
she  was  at  a  loss  to  divine  until  they  reached  the  patio; 
then  it  all  came  over  her  at  once.  She  was  to  be  publicly 
accused.  Don  Felipe  was  capable  of  that,  and  she 
shuddered  as  she  pictured  to  herself  the  scene  it  would 
be  certain  to  create. 

There  was  a  pause  in  the  dancing.  The  musicians 
were  playing  an  interlude,  and  as  the  three  reentered 
the  patio,  the  eyes  of  all  present  immediately  became 
centered  upon  them.  Just  opposite  to  where  they 
halted  sat  Blanch  and  Padre  Antonio,  conversing  to 
gether. 

"  I  would  much  prefer  to  spare  you  a  public  humili 
ation,"  said  Don  Felipe,  addressing  the  Captain  in  a 
low  tone.  "  It  is  not  too  late.  But  if  you  still  in 
sist  on  having  the  proof  at  this  time  — 

"  The  proof  by  all  means ! "  exclaimed  Chiquita  with- 


292  WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE 

out  giving  the  Captain  time  to  answer,  her  eyes  blaz 
ing  with  indignation. 

"  Very  well,  since  you  insist,"  replied  Don  Felipe, 
glancing  for  an  instant  in  the  direction  of  Blanch.  As 
he  did  so,  both  the  Captain  and  Chiquita  noticed  that 
she  let  fall,  as  if  by  accident,  the  pink  rose  she  held  in 
her  hand.  Instantly  Don  Felipe  turned  and  clapped 
his  hands,  whereupon,  an  old  Indian  woman,  bowed  with 
age  and  supporting  herself  with  a  stick,  and  accom 
panied  by  a  pretty  little  Indian  girl  of  five  or  six 
years  of  age,  emerged  from  one  of  the  doors  of  the 
house  and  paused,  bewildered  by  the  unusual  sight  that 
greeted  their  eyes ;  the  lights  and  flowers,  the  music  and 
gayly  dressed  men  and  women.  Chiquita  started  and 
uttered  a  low  cry  as  her  gaze  fell  upon  the  old  woman 
and  the  child.  Captain  Forest  noted  the  ashen  hue 
of  her  face  and  felt  her  hand  tremble  as  she  invol 
untarily  clutched  at  his  arm  as  if  for  support.  Then 
she  suddenly  seemed  to  recover  her  composure. 

"  That?  "  she  exclaimed,  and  began  to  laugh,  almost 
hysterically.  It  was  evident  to  the  others  that  some 
thing  unusual  had  occurred.  The  music  suddenly 
ceased,  and  save  for  the  murmur  of  the  fountain  in 
the  center  of  the  court,  not  a  sound  was  to  be  heard. 
All  eyes  were  now  turned  upon  the  old  woman  and 
the  child  who  still  stood  silent  and  motionless,  gaz 
ing  in  bewilderment  upon  the  strange  scene  before 
them.  Suddenly  the  child  uttered  a  cry  of  joy. 

"Madre!  Madre  mla! "  she  cried,  and  running 
across  the  court,  flung  herself  into  Chiquita's  arms. 
Then  it  was  that  the  latter  grasped  the  full  significance 


'  Madre  !   Madre  mia  .'  '    she  cried,  and  flung  herself  into  Chiquita's  arms." 

Page  29; 


WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE  293 

and  gravity  of  the  situation.  What  could  have  been 
more  compromising  and  humiliating  for  her? 

"  Marieta,  nina  mia!  "  she  exclaimed,  stooping  and 
kissing  the  child,  without  realizing  that  her  words  and 
action  only  compromised  her  the  more. 

"  Is  this  the  beautiful  garden  you  told  me  of,  Mother 
—  which  you  said  you  would  one  day  take  me  to  see?  " 
asked  the  child,  gazing  delightedly  about  her. 

"  Yes,  yes,  car  a  mia!  "  she  answered  hastily,  holding 
the  child  close  to  her.  Instinctively  the  others  began 
to  draw  near  the  little  group. 

"What  brings  you  here,  Juana?  "  she  asked  sternly 
of  the  old  woman  who  by  this  time  had  crossed  the  court 
and  stood  before  her,  leaning  on  her  stick. 

"  They  said  you  sent  for  us,  Senorita,  and  compelled 
us  to  come." 

"  I  never  sent  for  you !  "  answered  Chiquita. 

"  Do  you  wish  for  further  proof?  "  asked  Don 
Felipe,  addressing  the  Captain.  "  You  see,  the  child 
found  no  difficulty  in  recognizing  its  mother,"  he  added 
sarcastically. 

"  'Tis  a  lie !  "  cried  Chiquita.  Captain  Forest  was 
speechless,  stunned.  As  for  Don  Felipe,  he  only 
laughed  at  Chiquita's  impotent  rage. 

"  Between  five  and  six  years  ago,"  he  began,  "  the 
Senorita  and  one  Joaquin  Flores  brought  this  child 
late  one  night  to  the  Indian  pueblo,  Onava,  and  placed 
it  in  charge  of  this  woman  with  whom  it  has  lived  ever 
since.  Is  it  not  so?"  he  asked,  turning  to  the  old 
Indian  woman. 

"  It  is,  Senor,"  she  answered  in  confusion. 


294  WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE 

"  And  has  not  the  Senorita  visited  the  child  each 
month  and  provided  for  its  wants  ever  since  the  day 
it  was  given  into  your  charge  ? "  Again  the  old 
woman  answered  in  the  affirmative.  "  And  has  not  the 
child,"  continued  Don  Felipe,  "  always  called  her  mother 
ever  since  it  has  been  able  to  speak,  and  have  you  not 
always  thought  her  to  be  its  mother  ? "  The  old 
woman  hesitated  and  glanced  nervously  about  her  as 
though  seeking  a  way  of  escape. 

"  Speak,  Juana !  "  commanded  Don  Felipe  sharply. 
"  Onava  lies  within  my  domain.  Unless  you  speak  the 
truth,  I'll  have  you  and  the  rest  of  your  family  driven 
to  the  desert  to  starve." 

"  It  is  so,  Senor!  "  sobbed  the  old  woman,  thoroughly 
frightened  by  Don  Felipe's  threat,  yet  not  daring  to 
raise  her  eyes  to  those  of  Chiquita. 

"  You  now  know  why  the  Senorita  Chiquita  danced  in 
public  during  the  Fiesta.  It  was  to  provide  for  the 
wants  of  her  child,"  he  added  with  a  sneer. 

"  I  can't  believe  it ! "  exclaimed  Captain  Forest  con 
temptuously,  breaking  the  long  silence  he  had  pre 
served.  "  The  introduction  of  this  child  and  woman 
doesn't  prove  anything  that  I  can  see." 

"  Every  Indian  in  the  village,"  interrupted  Don 
Felipe,  "  will  substantiate  what  you  have  just  heard. 
Why,  the  Senorita  herself  taught  this  child  to  call  her 
mother.  But  there  are  still  other  things  which  you 
shall  learn  in  due  time." 

"  Chiquita,"  said  the  Captain  without  heeding  Don 
Felipe's  words,  "  speak !  I  know  you  can  explain." 


WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE  295 

She  glanced  up  at  him  for  a  moment  and  then  cast 
her  eyes  down  at  the  child. 

"  I  must  first  send  to  La  Jara  for  Joaquin  and 
Manuelita  Flores,"  she  answered.  "  When  they  come, 
I  shall  be  able  to  tell  something  definite  concerning  this 
child." 

"  You  can  spare  yourself  the  trouble,"  broke  in  Don 
Felipe.  "  They  are  both  dead." 

"Dead?"  she  cried,  starting  violently.  "Joaquin 
and  Manuelita  dead  ?  " 

"  Their  bodies,  together  with  those  of  their  horses  and 
wagon,  were  discovered  early  this  morning  at  the  foot 
of  the  mesa  which  lies  between  here  and  La  Jara, 
directly  below  the  point  where  the  road  winds  along 
the  rim  of  the  cliff.  Doubtless  their  horses  became 
frightened  in  the  dark  and  jumped  over  the  cliff  before 
they  could  save  themselves." 

Chiquita  uttered  a  low  cry.  "  You've  done  your 
work  well,  Don  Felipe  Ramirez,"  she  said  at  length, 
suddenly  straightening  and  stiffening  as  she  faced  him, 
the  expression  on  her  face  changing  to  one  of  hatred 
and  contempt. 

"  It  was  no  easy  task  to  run  you  to  earth,  I'll  admit," 
he  retorted  with  the  same  sneering  look  of  triumph  on 
his  countenance. 

The  only  two  persons  upon  whom  she  could  rely, 
who  could  corroborate  what  she  had  to  say  concerning 
Ihe  child,  were  dead.  No,  there  was  one  other,  a  man, 
but  he  too  was  gone  —  no  one  knew  where.  She  saw 
the  hopelessness  of  her  plight.  Nothing  she  could  say 


296  WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE 

or  do  could  alter  the  opinion  of  the  world  toward  her. 
She  might  continue  to  deny  the  charge,  protest  her  in 
nocence,  accuse  others,  but  to  what  avail?  Without  the 
actual  proof,  all  must  believe  that  which  they  were  so 
ready  and  willing  to  believe.  Had  not  the  child  recog 
nized  her,  called  her  mother  before  the  world?  Even 
though  the  charge  might  never  be  actually  proven,  and 
Captain  Forest  refuse  to  believe  it,  there  would  always 
be  this  thing  between  them  which  she  could  never  ex 
plain  satisfactorily.  It  was  not  natural  to  suppose  that 
he  could  possibly  forget  it  or  continue  to  believe  in  her 
protestations  of  innocence  without  the  corroboration  of 
others.  The  hour  must  surely  come  in  which  he  would 
be  assailed  by  doubts.  She  felt  she  had  lost  him,  and 
with  the  knowledge  of  her  failure,  was  seized  with  a 
sickening  sensation  and  an  acute  pain  at  the  heart.  A 
misty  veil  rose  between  her  and  the  world  and  she  swayed 
unsteadily  as  though  about  to  fall.  She  knew  she  must 
not  faint.  She  drew  her  hand  across  her  eyes,  then, 
putting  all  her  remaining  strength  into  the  effort,  she 
slowly  drew  herself  up. 

Strange,  that  she  and  Don  Felipe  should  have  been 
created  to  become  the  nemesis  of  one  another!  The 
child,  awed  by  the  silence  and  grave  faces  of  the  by 
standers,  instinctively  divined  that  there  was  something 
wrong  between  her  and  them,  and  clung  mutely  to  Chi- 
quita's  skirt,  a  frightened  look  on  her  face. 

Chiquita,  meanwhile,  stood  gazing  straight  out  before 
her,  her  head  slightly  inclined  forwards,  her  face  white 
and  set,  her  heart  burning  with  shame.  It  was  not  so 
much  the  question  of  guilt  or  innocence  that  affected  her 


WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE  291 

now,  but  the  shame  of  it  all.  What  must  the  Ameri 
cans  think  of  her?  She  felt  the  burning,  searching  gaze 
of  those  about  her  and  the  joy  they  experienced  at  her 
discomfiture.  Never  had  she  been  at  a  loss  to  know 
which  way  to  turn  to  extricate  herself  from  a  difficulty ; 
but  now,  how  helpless  she  was.  She  nervously  tapped 
the  palm  of  her  left  hand  with  her  fan,  vainly  rack 
ing  her  brain  in  an  effort  to  find  a  solution.  Dick,  who 
had  been  watching  her  narrowly  the  while,  saw  a  strange 
light  begin  to  play  in  her  eyes  in  which  he  read  Don 
Felipe's  death  as  plainly  as  though  it  were  written  across 
the  heavens  in  letters  of  flame. 

"  Chiquita,  you  must  say  something,"  said  Captain 
Forest.  "  I  tell  you  again,  I  don't  believe  it,  but  for 
your  own  sake  —  speak !  " 

"  Yes,  my  child,  speak !  "  entreated  Padre  Antonio, 
stepping  before  her.  "  Can't  you  see  your  silence  is 
condemning  you?  "  She  looked  up  at  him  and  saw  that 
his  face  was  ashen,  colorless  like  the  Captain's  —  that 
he  seemed  to  have  suddenly  aged.  Notwithstanding, 
there  was  the  same  kindly  expression  in  his  eyes  she 
had  always  known,  and  she  felt  that,  even  though  the 
world  refused  to  believe  in  her,  he  might ;  he  might  even 
forgive  her.  She  saw  in  her  present  humiliation  and 
shame,  a  direct  punishment  for  the  betrayal  of  the 
Padre's  confidence.  Had  she  confided  her  secret  to  him, 
this  could  not  have  come  upon  her.  Now,  however, 
it  was  too  late.  She  had  no  right  to  expect  sympathy 
even  from  him. 

"  Chiquita,  for  the  last  time,  I  ask  you  to  speak ! " 
pleaded  Captain  Forest,  racked  between  doubt  and  be- 


298  WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE 

lief  in  the  woman  he  loved.  Just  then,  little  Marieta 
began  to  cry. 

"  Madre,  madre ! "  she  gasped  between  her  sobs. 
"  I'm  afraid  of  these  people.  Take  me  away  —  take 
me  home  again  !  " 

"  Be  not  afraid,  my  little  one,  they  cannot  harm 
you,"  she  answered,  drawing  the  child  closer  to  her 
and  laying  one  hand  on  its  shoulder.  Another  embar 
rassing  silence,  broken  only  by  the  low  sobs  of  Marieta, 
followed. 

"  Chiquita,"  demanded  Padre  Antonio  at  length, 
"  has  this  child  the  right  to  call  you  mother  ?  "  There 
was  a  stern  ring  in  his  voice  and  she  knew  her  last 
moment  of  grace  had  come;  that  it  was  useless  to  hesi 
tate  longer.  She  glanced  at  the  Captain,  then  at  the 
Padre  and  then  down  at  the  pretty,  tear-stained  face  of 
the  clinging  child.  Again  she  felt  that  peculiar  pain 
at  the  heart  and  thought  she  was  going  to  faint  as  she 
struggled  with  herself  between  honor,  her  love  and  re 
spect  for  Captain  Forest  and  Padre  Antonio  and  her 
devotion  to  the  child  whose  life,  she  knew,  depended 
upon  her  answer.  Up  to  that  moment  she  had  been 
completely  at  a  loss  to  know  what  to  say  or  how  to  act, 
but  that  invisible  something  which  until  then  had  de 
prived  her  of  speech,  now  seemed  to  impel  her  to  answer 
in  the  affirmative. 

It  was  the  supreme  moment  of  her  life.  After  all 
the  years  she  could  not  abandon  the  child  now ;  the 
woman  in  her  forbade  it.  She  must  go  on  to  the  end. 
Again  she  glanced  down  at  Marieta,  and  then  raising 
her  head  and  looking  into  Padre  Antonio's  eyes,  said 
quietly :  "  Yes,  she  has  that  right." 


WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE  299 

"  It's  not  true ;  I  don't  believe  It !  "  cried  Captain 
Forest  in  a  tone  in  which  was  expressed  all  the  shame 
and  disgust  he  experienced  on  seeing  the  woman  he 
loved  dragged  into  the  mire  before  his  eyes. 

"  Captain  Forest,  you  have  heard  the  truth,"  answered 
Chiquita. 

"  Then  there  is  nothing  further  to  be  said !  "  broke 
in  Padre  Antonio  who  was  anxious  to  end  a  scene  that 
was  growing  more  painful  each  moment.  Without  a 
word,  the  Captain  whirled  on  his  heel  and  walked  toward 
the  garden.  Clearly,  the  effects  of  the  drop  of  poison 
instilled  so  adroitly  into  their  lives  by  Don  Felipe  were 
beginning  to  be  felt. 

It  is  doubtful  whether  Blanch  would  have  given  Don 
Felipe  the  signal  could  she  have  foreseen  the  con 
sequences.  Her  rival  could  have  been  exposed  without 
being  publicly  humiliated.  Nevertheless,  an  ineffable  joy 
filled  her  soul.  She  knew  now  that  Jack  either  must 
return  to  her,  or  he  would  never  marry.  His  sensitive, 
overwrought  mind  frenzied  and  made  desperate  by  de 
spair  might  even  drive  him  to  kill  himself  in  the  end,  but 
what  did  it  really  matter  so  long  as  no  other  woman  pos 
sessed  him? 

Don  Felipe  fairly  reveled  in  his  revenge  and  took 
no  pains  to  conceal  it.  It  was  the  sweetest  moment  of 
his  life.  At  last  she  too  knew  what  it  was  to  be  struck 
to  earth,  to  lie  prone  with  one's  face  in  the  dust,  the 
jeers  of  the  world  ringing  in  her  ears.  Of  a  truth,  to 
quote  Dick's  words,  "  Had  the  devil  raked  hell  with 
a  fine-tooth  comb,  he  could  not  have  produced  a  more 
accomplished  villain  than  Don  Felipe  Ramirez." 


XXXII 

AS  Chiquita  and  Padre  Antonio  left  the  patio,  ac 
companied  by  Marieta  and  old  Juana,  the  women 
drew  back  from  her  as  though  from  some  unclean  thing. 
Gladly  would  they  have  spared  Padre  Antonio's  feelings, 
but  their  hatred  and  jealousy  were  too  intense  and  the 
opportunity  to  cast  a  stone  at  her  too  tempting  for 
flesh  and  blood  to  resist. 

Greatly  to  the  astonishment  of  every  one,  it  was  noted 
that  Padre  Antonio  carried  his  head  quite  as  high  while 
leaving,  as  when  he  entered  the  patio  during  the  early 
part  of  the  evening.  They  expected  him  to  limp  away,  a 
crushed  and  broken  old  man ;  but  they  had  yet  to  learn 
the  unbending  spirit  of  the  Padre.  Although  humble 
in  the  sight  of  God,  experience  had  taught  him  that  the 
only  way  to  command  the  respect  of  men  was  to  hold 
one's  head  high  while  among  them. 

What  must  he  think  of  her  now,  to  be  requited  thus 
after  all  he  had  done  for  her?  Chiquita  asked  herself  as 
she,  with  Marieta  and  Juana,  followed  him  homeward. 
The  opinion  of  the  world  concerning  her,  and  the  loss  of 
Captain  Forest's  love,  seemed  little  in  comparison  to  the 
thought  that  he  should  believe  she  had  betrayed  his  con 
fidence.  She  could  endure  anything  but  that.  Had  she 
but  told  him  all  in  the  beginning,  he  might  have  been 
spared  the  shame  of  this  disgrace.  Perhaps  it  was  not 

300 


WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE  301 

yet  too  late;  she  would  tell  him  all  that  night.  True, 
she  could  not  make  amends  for  the  pain  she  had  caused 
him,  but  perhaps  he  would  understand  —  forgive  her. 

She  knew  that  a  continuance  of  her  residence  in  Santa 
Fe  was  no  longer  possible.  Strange  that  it  should  have 
ended  thus,  and  what  was  before  her  now?  She  knew 
the  world  only  waited  to  shower  wealth  and  distinction 
upon  her  should  she  choose  the  stage  for  a  career;  or, 
she  might  return  to  her  people.  But  what  would  life  be 
to  her  under  any  conditions  without  Padre  Antonio's  re 
spect  and  the  Captain's  love? 

Strong  and  versatile  and  capable  though  she  was  to 
cope  with  the  world,  her  lot  was  not  an  enviable  one.  It 
was  with  Godspeed,  not  the  maledictions  of  one's 
neighbors,  that  she  had  hoped  to  leave  the  place  which 
had  sheltered  her  so  long.  And  Padre  Antonio  —  how 
could  she  part  from  him  thus  ? 

Captain  Forest's  last  words  were  her  only  solace ;  he 
had  tried  to  believe  in  her  to  the  end.  Let  come  what 
might,  they  would  remain  with  her  always  like  a  bene 
diction,  a  tower  of  strength  in  some  future  hour  of  trial. 
And  then  there  was  Don  Felipe.  Ah,  yes,  Don  Felipe ! 
Her  teeth  came  together  with  a  snap,  for  she  knew 
that,  even  after  what  had  transpired,  he  would  follow 
her. 

Padre  Antonio  walked  silently  homeward  without  so 
much  as  turning  round  once  to  look  at  the  others.  Not 
even  after  arriving  at  the  great  iron  gate  before  the  gar 
den  did  he  pause  to  allow  the  others  to  pass  in  ahead  of 
him  as  he  otherwise  would  have  done,  but  walked 
straight  on  to  the  house  and  entered  the  living-room 


302  WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE 

without  so  much  as  looking  round,  leaving  Chiquita  to 
dispose  of  old  Juana  and  the  child  for  the  night. 

Padre  Antonio  was  no  fool.  Perplexed  though  he 
was  by  what  had  occurred,  he  knew  there  was  a 
time  for  silence  as  well  as  a  time  for  speech.  He  also 
knew  that  Chiquita  would  join  him  as  soon  as  the  others 
were  settled  for  the  night,  and  that  she  would  then  tell 
him  her  story. 

Outside,  the  garden  was  almost  as  light  as  during  the 
day,  and  the  room,  though  partially  in  shadow,  was  il 
lumined  by  the  moonlight  to  an  extent  that  rendered 
objects  within  it  distinctly  visible.  The  events  of  the 
evening  had  sorely  taxed  his  strength.  He  was  thor 
oughly  tired,  and  with  a  sigh  he  threw  himself  into  his 
large  leathern  chair  to  rest  until  Chiquita  returned. 

"  What  was  the  mystery  in  connection  with  the 
child  ?  "  he  asked  himself,  closing  his  eyes  in  thought. 
Don  Felipe's  story  could  not  be  true.  "  It  was  absurd, 
preposterous !  "  he  cried  aloud,  opening  his  eyes  with  a 
start.  As  he  did  so,  his  gaze  fell  upon  a  picture  on  the 
wall  opposite,  gleaming  conspicuously  in  the  full  flood 
of  moonlight.  It  was  that  beautiful  illustration  of  what 
human  faith  may  accomplish ;  the  familiar  representa 
tion  of  Saint  Elizabeth  of  Thuringia  meekly  displaying 
the  contents  of  her  apron  before  her  lord,  the  Landgrave 
—  that  heavy,  sporadic  type  of  whiskered  ass  whose  only 
mission  in  life  seems  to  be  that  of  pulling  the  stars  and 
all  else  down  about  his  wassail-soaked  head  and  ears 
through  sheer  avoirdupois  and  stupidity.  Padre  An 
tonio  experienced  a  sudden  thrill  as  he  gazed  at  the  pic 
ture.  Clearly,  it  was  the  hand  of  God  directing  him. 


WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE  303 

So  did  Saint  Elizabeth  deliberately  deny  the  truth,  and 
yet  the  bread  in  her  apron  was  turned  to  roses. 

Instinctively  he  recalled  Captain  Forest's  last  words. 
And  then,  putting  two  and  two  together,  he  also  recalled 
the  fact  that  he  had  noted  something  during  the  scene 
which  nobody  else  seemed  to  have  noticed,  namely:  that 
the  face  of  the  child,  Marieta,  was  the  living  image  of 
Don  Felipe's.  Like  a  flash  all  became  clear  to  him,  and 
he  smiled  and  nodded  as  the  truth  dawned  upon  him, 
and  he  wondered  greatly  at  Chiquita's  discretion. 
Yet  why  should  he  be  astonished?  Was  it  not  like 
her? 

Chiquita  also  wondered  in  turn,  and  was  much  per 
plexed  by  his  attitude,  the  quiet,  benign  expression  of 
his  face,  when  she  entered  the  room  after  bidding  Juana 
and  Marieta  good  night.  She  had  expected  exactly 
the  reverse.  What  did  it  mean,  did  he  know  anything? 
But  she  did  not  stop  to  question  him.  Before  unbur 
dening  her  soul,  she  must  first  divest  herself  of  the  jewels 
which,  ever  since  the  terrible  scene  at  the  Posada,  she  felt 
she  had  dishonored.  Their  touch  seemed  to  burn  her 
flesh. 

"  Padre  mio"  she  said  quietly,  as  though  nothing  un 
usual  had  occurred,  "you  know  I  said  it  would  not  be 
necessary  to  wear  these  jewels  longer  than  to-night.  I 
really  never  should  have  worn  them  at  all.  It  was  not 
right,  for,  as  you  see,  I  am  not  worthy  of  them."  She 
began  to  unclasp  the  bracelet  on  her  arm,  but  hastily 
putting  forth  his  hand,  he  checked  her. 

"  No,  my  child !  "  he  said,  rising  from  the  chair. 
"  You  must  keep  them  —  they  are  yours.  Besides,  they 


304  WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE 

are  so  becoming  to  you !  Again  I  say  —  you  are  the 
only  woman  in  this  world  worthy  to  wear  them." 

"  Padre,  Padre  mio!  "  she  cried,  starting  backward 
and  gazing  full  in  his  face.  "  You  —  you  believe  in 
me?" 

"  How  could  you  have  imagined  anything  else,  my 
child?  "  he  answered  quietly.  Without  attempting  a  re 
ply,  she  threw  herself  upon  his  breast,  convulsed  with 
sobs  and  trembling  in  every  limb,  telling  him  plainer  than 
words  how  terribly  shaken  she  had  been  by  the  ordeal 
through  which  she  had  just  passed.  He  did  not  attempt 
to  soothe  or  pacify  her  with  words,  knowing  how  useless 
it  would  be,  but  waited  quietly  for  her  passionate  out 
burst  to  subside. 

"  Ah !  Padre  mio,  how  good  you  are,  and  how  have  I 
requited  you !  "  she  said  at  length,  looking  up  at  him 
through  her  tears  and  slowly  disengaging  herself  from 
his  arms.  "  You  know,"  she  continued  between  convul 
sive  sobs,  and  slowly  drying  her  tears,  "  that  little  Mari- 
eta  is  the  child  of  Don  Felipe  and  Pepita  Dclaguerra." 
Padre  Antonio  started  at  the  mention  of  the  latter's 
name. 

"Pepita  Delaguerra?"  he  repeated.  "I  felt  all 
along  that  she  was  Don  Felipe's  child,  the  resemblance 
is  so  striking,  and  I  wonder  the  others  did  not  notice  it, 
but  I  never  connected  her  with  Pepita ;  perhaps  because 
it  is  so  long  since  she  died.  How  strange  that  he 
should  have  introduced  his  own  child  without  knowing 
it!" 

"  Yes,"  returned  Chiquita.  "  And  yet  it  is  not  so 
strange  after  all.  Persons  of  his  character  invariably 


WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE          305 

blunder  in  the  end,  clever  though  they  be.  Another 
strange  coincidence  is  that  they  were  married  just  six 
years  ago  to-day  in  the  little  Mission  church  of  San  Isi- 
dor  at  Onava." 

"  Why,  that  was  before  Don  Juan's  death,  and  in  di 
rect  opposition  to  the  stipulations  of  his  will ! "  ex 
claimed  Padre  Antonio  excitedly. 

"  Just  so,"  answered  Chiquita.  "  That's  what  caused 
the  trouble.  The  entire  property  should  have  gone  to 
the  Church,  but  Felipe  destroyed  the  record  of  his  mar 
riage  before  his  father's  death  and  the  birth  of  his 
child." 

"  The  scoundrel !  "  cried  the  Padre. 

"  But  that  is  not  all,"  continued  Chiquita.  "  Every 
thing  seemed  to  be  in  league  with  him  to  further  his 
plans.  Father  Danuncio,  who  secretly  married  them, 
also  died  before  Don  Juan  did,  without  divulging  the  se 
cret." 

"  Strange!  "  ejaculated  Padre  Antonio..- 

"  There  were  three  witnesses  to  the  marriage  —  Joa- 
quin  and  Manuelita  Flores,  whom  Don  Felipe  has  clev 
erly  put  out  of  the  way,  and  Bob  Carlton,  the  gambler, 
who,  at  that  time,  was  Don  Felipe's  intimate  friend ;  but 
he,  too,  is  gone  and  never  dare  return." 

"The  clever  scoundrel!"  interrupted  the  Padre. 

"  Yes,"  answered  Chiquita.  "  When  it  comes  to  dev 
iltry,  Don  Felipe  has  yet  to  meet  his  match.  But  as  I 
was  about  to  say :  Six  months  after  the  marriage,  Don 
Felipe  deserted  Pepita,  then  the  child  was  born,  and 
knowing  that  he  would  unhesitatingly  make  way  with  it 
should  he  learn  of  its  existence,  Joaquin  and  I  took  it  to 


306  WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE 

Onava,  where  we  knew  it  would  be  hid  effectually  from 
the  world.  Of  course  old  Juana  and  all  the  other  In 
dians  in  the  village  thought  the  child  was  mine,  and  I  let 
them  think  so  in  order  that  its  identity  might  the  better 
be  concealed  until  we  were  able  to  prove  to  whom  it  be 
longed." 

"  But  why  did  you  not  tell  me  this  in  the  beginning, 
my  child?  "  he  asked  with  a  note  of  reproach  in  his 
voice.  "  I  might  have  — " 

"  Ah,  that  was  to  protect  you,  Padre  mio!  It 
might  have  been  wiser  had  I  done  so,  and  yet  I  think 
not.  I  felt  impelled  to  keep  you  in  ignorance  of  the 
facts,  for  I  knew  that  Don  Felipe  would  stop  at  noth 
ing.  What  would  your  life  have  been  to  him,  had  you 
come  between  him  and  his  position?  His  wealth  is  too 
vast.  I  knew  that,  as  surely  as  you  raised  your  voice 
against  him,  as  you  would  have  been  obliged  to  in  the 
interests  of  the  Church,  you  one  day  would  have  been 
found  dead  in  some  lonely  pass  in  the  mountains  while 
engaged  in  your  Mission  work." 

Padre  Antonio  was  too  astute  an  observer  of  men  not 
to  perceive  the  force  of  her  words. 

"  I  marvel  at  your  sagacity,  my  child ;  but  think  what 
it  has  cost  you !  " 

"  Ah !  that  is  the  marvelous  part  of  it !  "  she  replied. 
"  Whoever  would  have  imagined  that,  unconscious  of 
the  true  facts,  he  would  have  succeeded  in  turning  my 
own  weapons  against  me?  It's  fate,  Padre  mio." 

He  paced  back  and  forth  for  some  time  in  silence, 
then  suddenly  pausing  before  her,  said :  "  This  cloud 
must  not  rest  upon  you,  Chiquita  mla.  We  must  find 


WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE  307 

that  blackleg,  Carlton,  if  we  have  to  raise  heaven  and 
earth  to  do  it." 

"  That  is  easier  said  than  done,  Padre  mio,"  she  an 
swered  quietly. 

"  God  never  wholly  abandons  his  children  to  the  evil 
of  the  world,"  he  returned  firmly.  "  Don  Felipe  has 
deceived  the  Church  once,  but  he  shall  not  do  so  a  second 
time.  God  has  allowed  him  to  triumph  thus  far  in  order 
that  his  punishment  may  be  all  the  greater  in  the  end 
when  it  comes  upon  him.  Carlton  must  be  somewhere 
just  across  the  border  —  in  Texas  or  Arizona  or  New 
Mexico.  Within  twenty-four  hours  after  the  word  has 
been  flashed  over  the  wires,  runners  will  have  passed 
through  all  our  remote  Missions  along  the  border,  and  if 
he  is  no  longer  in  Mexico,  then  the  word  shall  be  passed 
across  the  frontier  into  the  United  States.  If  he  still 
be  alive,  he  can  not  escape  us.  We  will  find  him  and 
bring  him  back  again.  No,  the  Church  is  not  so  power 
less  as  many,  strong  in  worldly  possessions,  imagine. 
The  Church  of  Rome  has  never  yet  failed  to  find  the  man 
or  woman  she  has  set  out  to  find.  Don  Felipe  will  be 
stripped  of  his  possessions  and  his  child  restored  to  its 
rightful  position. 

"  Again  I  say,  God's  ways  are  past  all  understand 
ing.  You  have  been  His  unconscious  instrument. 
Think  of  what  you  were  and  how  you  came  to  me,  and 
what  your  life  has  been  since  then !  Have  you  endured 
all  for  naught?  Are  God's  plans  to  be  frustrated  by 
a  man,  a  dastardly  craven  like  Don  Felipe?  No,  my 
child,  I  see  things  clearer  now  than  I  ever  have  seen 
them  before.  You  and  Captain  Forest  have  not  been 


SOS 

brought  together  from  the  ends  of  the  earth  only  to  be 
mocked  by  the  world  of  evil.  God  demands  that  we  all 
shall  pass  through  the  fire  in  order  that  we  may  be  fitted 
to  bear  the  burden  He  lays  upon  us.  You  both  have  en 
dured  the  trial ;  proved  yourselves  worthy  of  the  mission 
He  has  entrusted  to  you."  • 

He  paused.  Then,  suddenly  recollecting  the  all-im 
portant  question,  he  exclaimed :  "  I  forget,  we  are  wast 
ing  time ;  we  must  find  Carlton  !  This  very  night  word 
shall  go  forth ! "  and  hastily  snatching  up  his  hat  and 
stick,  he  hurried  out  into  the  night. 


XXXIII 

CAPTAIN  FOREST'S  feelings  are  better  imag 
ined  than  described.  His  brain  was  in  a  whirl, 
on  fire.  For  the  second  time  a  woman  had  treated  his 
confidence  lightly.  The  whole  world  seemed  to  spin 
round  him  in  chaotic  confusion  as  he  sought  to  lay  hold 
of  a  single,  tangible  thought  that  might  temper  his  judg 
ment,  steady  his  nerves  and  check  the  fierce  outbursts  of 
passion  which  were  fast  sweeping  him  beyond  self- 
control.  He  had  reached  a  state  of  recklessness  that 
renders  a  man  of  his  temperament  most  dangerous,  and 
unless  his  judgment  soon  got  the  better  of  his  passions, 
he  would,  as  likely  as  not,  either  kill  Chiquita  or  Don 
Felipe,  or  both  of  them. 

The  company  had  broken  up  shortly  after  the  de 
parture  of  Chiquita  and  Padre  Antonio,  leaving  the 
patio  silent  and  deserted,  save  for  the  presence  of  the 
Captain,  who  paced  silently  back  and  forth;  the  moon 
flooding  the  patio  with  broad  sheets  of  white  light, 
causing  objects  to  appear  almost  as  sharp  and  distinct 
as  before  the  lights  of  the  lanterns  were  extinguished. 

Blanch,  who  was  the  last  to  leave,  would  have  offered 
him  her  sympathy,  but  on  approaching  him,  he  gave  her 
a  look  so  terrifying  that  even  she  dared  not  speak  to 
him.  She  accordingly  retired  to  her  room  and  seated 
herself  before  the  open  window  from  which  she  com- 

309 


310  WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE 

manded  a  view  of  the  court  and  could  observe  him  at 
her  leisure.  Perhaps  he  will  come  to  his  senses  now, 
she  thought.  At  any  rate,  he  now  knew  what  she  suf 
fered.  She  experienced  a  feeling  of  cruel  satisfaction 
and  exultation  while  calmly  watching  the  struggle  going 
on  within  him  as  he  paced  slowly  back  and  forth. 

How  strange  that  they  should  be  there  in  that  out-of- 
the-way  place !  In  spite  of  the  terrible  ordeal  through 
which  she  had  passed  and  the  dramatic  climax  in  which 
the  struggle  had  just  culminated,  it  still  appeared  so 
unreal,  so  unnatural  to  her,  that  she  wondered  whether 
she  was  not  still  dreaming  and  must  soon  awaken  to  find 
herself  back  in  the  old  life  again  and  Jack  near  her,  as 
in  the  old  days.  Who  could  have  foreseen  this  tragedy, 
this  end  to  their  lives?  But  a  few  months  previous  all 
things  appeared  so  clear  and  defined,  so  definitely  or 
dained  for  them. 

Truly  the  future  was  veiled  —  a  sealed  book  for  man ! 
Had  she  been  permitted  to  dip  for  but  an  instant  be 
neath  the  cover  of  that  book,  or  lift  the  veil  ever  so  little, 
the  catastrophe  that  had  overtaken  them  and  the  suffer 
ing  it  entailed  might  have  been  averted. 

But  no.  The  strange  nemesis  that  had  pursued  them 
step  by  step  had  been  permitted  to  wreck  their  lives  com 
pletely.  And  for  what  end  —  what  purpose?  Was 
there  no  justice,  no  recompense  for  them?  The  answer, 
she  somehow  felt,  lay  not  here,  but  with  the  stars  —  in 
the  great  universal  scheme  of  things,  and  was  quite  be 
yond  her  reasoning  powers. 

She  felt  the  utter  hopelessness  of  longer  struggling 
against  the  unseen,  and  in  that  hour  she  became  a  fatal- 


WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE  311 

ist.  Better  drift  from  day  to  day  without  purpose, 
than  living,  behold  one's  dreams  and  ambitions  come  to 
naught.  She  was  like  a  strong,  self-confident  swimmer 
who  had  been  caught  by  the  tide  and  was  being  swept 
irresistibly  out  to  sea.  Blurred  though  her  vision  was, 
she  seemed  to  see  things  clearer  than  she  had  ever  seen 
them  before,  and  she  somehow  felt  that  the  fate  which 
had  overtaken  her  was  the  result  of  self-aggrandizement 
—  that  she  in  a  measure  typified  the  passing  or  end  of  a 
condition  out  of  whose  decay  the  new  life  must  spring. 

Submit  she  must,  and  yet  a  fierce  resentment  against 
all  things  filled  her  soul.  She  rebelled  at  the  apparent 
injustice  which  she  felt  had  been  done  her.  Why  had 
she,  the  most  fit,  been  chosen?  What  had  she  really 
done  to  merit  such  an  end?  She  realized  that  her  trou 
ble  was  unalterable;  that  it  had  its  root  in  the  social 
scheme  of  things  and  nothing  she  could  do  could  alter  it. 
That  in  reality  it  was  no  fault  of  hers,  but  the  fault  of 
her  bringing  up;  that  the  world  which  she  had  been 
taught  to  respect  as  a  thing  representing  truth  and 
beauty,  all  that  is  best  in  man,  was  only  a  mocking 
illusion. 

The  injustice  of  it  amazed,  appalled,  stunned  her. 
She  seemed  to  think  and  move  like  one  in  a  dream, 
struggling  with  shadowy,  intangible  forces  with  which 
she  was  incapable  to  cope.  The  thought  that  it  was  not 
her  fault  only  added  to  her  bitterness  and  agony,  and 
she  longed  for  death  —  the  death  that  knows  no  awaken 
ing  —  to  be  blotted  out  utterly,  and  forever.  Her  life 
was  devoid  of  hope,  there  was  nothing  to  look  forward 
to,  the  future  had  become  a  blank. 


WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE 

A  low  moan,  in  which  was  expressed  the  despair  and 
agony  of  men  since  the  beginning  of  time,  escaped  her. 
She  pressed  her  cold  hands  to  her  burning,  throbbing 
temples  and  prayed  that,  whatever  her  end  might  be,  it 
would  come  swiftly. 

Again  she  raised  her  head  and  glanced  through  the 
open  window.  To  her  surprise  she  saw  the  tall  form  of 
Dick  Yankton  leaning  against  one  of  the  pillars  of  the 
arcade  that  ran  round  the  patio.  He  was  smoking 
quietly  and  observing  the  Captain,  who  still  strode  back 
and  forth  apparently  unaware  of  his  presence.  Sud 
denly  the  Captain  stopped  short  as  if  he  had  come  to  a 
decision.  As  he  did  so,  he  turned  half  round  and  saw 
Dick,  whom  he  regarded  for  some  moments  in  silence. 
Then,  going  over  to  where  he  stood,  she  heard  him  ex 
claim  :  "  It's  not  true,  Dick,  I  don't  believe  it.  I'm 
going  to  her  now  and  tell  her  so !  "  At  the  same  in 
stant  she  also  saw  Don  Felipe  glide  noiselessly  and 
stealthily  from  one  of  the  doors  opening  on  to  the  patio 
and  pause  in  the  deep  shadow  of  the  arcade  next  to  the 
wall,  close  to  where  they  stood.  Instantly  she  was  on 
her  feet  and  leaning  forward,  breathless  and  eager  to 
catch  all  that  was  said. 

"  Neither  do  I  believe  it,"  answered  Dick.  "  But  I 
wouldn't  have  told  you  so.  I  wanted  you  to  make  up 
your  mind  first,  and  if  you  hadn't  said  so  just  now,  I 
wouldn't  show  you  this,  either,"  he  continued,  drawing 
from  his  inner  coat  pocket  a  large  envelope  from  which 
he  took  a  letter  and  handed  it  to  the  Captain. 

She  saw  the  sheet  of  paper  tremble  in  the  Captain's 
hands  as  he  read  its  contents.  Again  Dick  handed  him 


WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE          313 

another  sheet  somewhat  larger  and  darker  than  the  first. 
He  seized  it  eagerly,  glancing  hurriedly  over  its  contents, 
his  hands  trembling  more  violently  than  before. 

"  Marvelous ! "  he  exclaimed  excitedly,  looking  at 
Dick.  "  And  yet,"  he  added,  "  it's  not  so  strange  after 
all ;  it's  so  natural !  " 

Blanch  uttered  a  suppressed  cry.  She  felt  that  her 
last  chance  of  winning  back  the  Captain  was  gone  for 
ever.  It  was  a  last  stab  at  her  heart.  At  this  junc 
ture  Jose  appeared  from  out  the  shadows  of  the  garden 
beyond  the  patio  and  hurriedly  approached  them.  She 
heard  him  say  something  in  Spanish  which  she  did  not 
understand.  Then,  all  became  blurred  before  her  eyes. 
She  felt  herself  begin  to  sway  and  totter  —  she  fainted. 

Following  Jose,  the  Captain  and  Dick  came  upon 
Starlight,  quietly  cropping  the  grass  in  the  garden,  just 
outside  the  corral.  On  hearing  their  approach,  the 
Chestnut  raised  his  head,  and,  seeing  his  master,  gave  a 
low  whinny  of  recognition.  Close  beside  him  on  the 
grass  lay  a  dark,  shapeless  object  which,  on  closer  in 
spection,  proved  to  be  the  remains  of  Juan  Ramon, 
trampled  almost  beyond  recognition  by  the  stallion's 
terrible  hoofs. 

While  Chiquita  was  being  confronted  by  Don  Felipe 
and  the  attention  of  every  one  was  occupied  by  the 
scene  that  followed,  Juan  seized  the  opportunity  for 
which  he  had  been  waiting.  Stealing  quietly  away  to 
the  corrals,  he  deftly  flung  a  riata  over  the  stallion's 
head,  and,  looping  it  about  the  animal's  nose,  was  on  his 
back  with  a  bound. 


314  WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE 

There  was  no  question  of  Juan's  ability  to  ride  him. 
Once  on  a  horse's  back,  he  had  never  yet  been  unseated. 
He  had  expected  the  Chestnut  to  rear  and  plunge,  to 
fight  desperately  on  finding  a  stranger  on  his  back  and 
he  was  prepared  for  it,  but  greatly  to  his  surprise,  the 
horse  showed  no  signs  of  fight  and  went  meekly  out  of 
the  corral  at  his  bidding.  All  went  well  until  they 
reached  the  garden,  and  Juan  was  beginning  to  congrat 
ulate  himself  on  making  his  escape  so  easily,  when  sud 
denly  and  without  warning,  the  Chestnut  stopped  short, 
reached  round  with  his  head,  and  seizing  Juan  by  the  leg 
with  his  teeth,  jerked  him  to  the  ground.  Juan  heard 
the  stallion's  fierce  cry  of  rage,  and  —  that  was  the  end. 

The  luck  had  changed  again  for  Juan,  and  with  it 
vanished  his  fair  dream  of  life  on  the  little  hacienda  with 
the  pretty  Rosita. 

Jose  had  long  been  aware  of  Juan's  intentions  regard 
ing  the  horse,  and  laughed  quietly  to  himself  as  he 
thought  of  the  trap  Juan  was  laying  for  himself.  That 
afternoon  he  appeared  to  be  drinking  heavily,  and  early 
in  the  evening  feigned  intoxication  in  order  that  Juan 
might  go  to  his  death  which  he  knew  awaited  him  should 
he  so  much  as  lay  his  hand  on  the  horse. 

When  Blanch  regained  consciousness  once  more,  she 
found  herself  in  a  half  sitting  and  kneeling  posture  be 
fore  the  window  with  one  arm  resting  on  the  sill.  She 
must  have  been  unconscious  for  some  time,  for  when  she 
came  to  herself,  she  again  saw  Captain  Forest  and  Dick 
standing  in  the  patio  conversing  in  low  tones.  They 
soon  separated,  Dick  going  into  the  house,  and  the  Cap 
tain  making  his  way  through  the  garden.  She  knew  he 


WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE  315 

was  on  his  way  to  Chiquita.  She  also  saw  Don  Felipe 
steal  from  the  shadow  of  his  concealment  and  follow 
him. 

A  great  fear  seized  her.  She  felt  the  imminence  of  a 
disaster  greater  than  that  which  had  already  occurred. 
Something  terrible  was  about  to  happen.  The  thought 
aroused  her  to  action  and  she  hurriedly  rose  to  her  feet. 
If  possible,  she  would  prevent  that  final  catastrophe 
which  her  intuition  told  her  was  imminent  —  which  she 
knew  must  overtake  either  one  or  all  three  of  them  should 
Don  Felipe  and  the  Captain  meet  again  that  night  in 
Chiquita's  presence. 

There  was  not  a  moment  to  lose,  and  seizing  a  light 
wrap  which  lay  on  a  chair  beside  her,  she  flung  it  about 
her  shoulders  and  hurriedly  left  the  room. 


XXXIV 

"OEFORE  leaving  the  patio,  Bessie  promised  to  meet 
•*-*  Dick  in  the  garden  after  the  company  dispersed 
for  the  night.  After  the  Captain's  departure,  Dick  re 
turned  to  the  patio  and  took  his  stand  in  the  shadow  of 
the  nearest  trees,  where  he  awaited  her. 

Never  had  her  mood  appeared  so  distracted  and 
evasive  as  that  evening.  She  had  avoided  him  as  much 
as  possible.  He  was  quite  at  a  loss  to  know  how  to  take 
her,  and  wondered  what  would  be  the  outcome  of  their 
interview  which,  he  felt,  might  possibly  be  their  last. 

Notwithstanding  this  melancholy  prospect,  he  still  ex 
perienced  the  same  spirit  of  buoyancy  which  possessed 
him  during  the  day.  He  had  caught  her  regarding  him 
several  times  during  the  evening  with  what  he  thought 
to  be  a  look  of  tenderness  in  her  eyes,  and  this,  perhaps, 
accounted  in  a  measure  for  his  present  elation. 

She,  in  turn,  had  wondered  greatly  at  the  change  that 
had  come  over  him.  How  could  he  possibly  be  so  gay 
when  everybody  else  was  so  miserable,  and  she  thor 
oughly  resented  it. 

During  the  interval  that  had  elapsed  after  the  break 
ing  up  of  the  company,  she  had  participated  in  a  stormy 
interview  with  her  father  and  aunt ;  the  latter  endeavor 
ing  to  point  out  to  her  the  danger  incurred  by  holding 

316 


WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE  317 

intercourse  with  obscure,  low-born  persons,  as  had  just 
been  demonstrated  in  the  Captain's  case. 

She  was  surprised  on  returning  to  her  room  not  to 
find  Blanch  there,  but,  on  second  thought,  felt  it  was  only 
natural  after  what  had  occurred  that  she  should  want  to 
be  alone,  and  thought  she  must  be  somewhere  in  the  gar 
den.  She  had  seen  Dick  leave  the  patio  and  disappear 
in  the  shadow  beyond,  whither  she  directed  her  steps, 
passing  out  and  around  the  front  of  the  house,  as  she 
did  not  wish  to  incur  the  risk  of  being  seen  by  her  father 
or  aunt. 

Dick,  who  had  tossed  aside  his  hat  on  the  grass  and 
stood  leaning  against  the  trunk  of  a  tree,  was  presently 
aroused  from  his  meditations  by  the  object  of  his 
thoughts,  who  stood  close  beside  him. 

"  Well,  I'm  here,"  she  said,  by  way  of  beginning, 
looking  up  into  his  face. 

"  I  was  looking  for  you  in  the  other  direction,"  he 
replied,  throwing  away  his  half-burnt  cigar.  "  I  ought 
to  have  known  better.  You  are  always  doing  the  oppo 
site  of  that  which  one  expects." 

A  smile  lit  up  her  face  for  a  moment,  as  she  flashed 
her  beautiful  wide  eyes  upon  him.  She  seemed  a  part 
of  that  beauteous  night,  elfish  and  delicate  as  a  moon 
beam  or  a  flower,  fragile  as  the  song  of  a  bird.  He 
could  not  speak,  but  stood  drinking  her  in  with  his 
eyes  and  soul,  his  face  wearing  a  mixed  expression  of 
rapture  and  pain.  She  knew  what  he  felt,  and  like 
him,  she,  too,  struggled  with  herself  for  the  mastery  of 
her  emotion. 

"  Do  you  know,"  she  said  at  length,  "  this  is  the  first 


318  WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE 

time  I  have  ever  been  guilty  of  a  clandestine  meeting 
with  a  man.  If  my  father  knew  I  was  here,  he  would 
be  beside  himself." 

"  Then  you  did  want  to  come !  "  he  exclaimed. 

"  Of  course.  Otherwise,  why  should  I  be  here  ?  "  she 
responded  shyly,  raising  her  eyes  to  his  for  an  instant 
and  then  lowering  them  again. 

"  Bessie !  "  he  cried,  starting  toward  her. 

"  Hush !  "  she  said,  raising  her  hand  in  protest  and 
checking  him.  Had  he  taken  her  in  his  arms  then  and 
there,  she  would  have  surrendered  without  a  struggle, 
for  she  was  in  that  soft,  languid  mood  of  a  woman  in  love 
in  spite  of  herself.  But  he  dared  not  give  way  to  his 
impulse.  He  loved  her  too  much,  and  feared  lest  his  im 
petuosity  might  ruin  forever  his  chance  of  winning 
her. 

"  I  know  it  was  foolish  of  me  to  come,  especially  when 
there  was  no  reason  for  it,"  she  continued  with  assumed 
indifference,  casting  a  sidelong  glance  at  him  out  of  the 
corners  of  her  eyes.  In  spite  of  the  pain  she  knew  she 
inflicted,  she  could  not  resist  flirting  with  him  just  a 
little  even  at  such  a  moment.  It  filled  her  with  such 
exquisite  joy  to  feel  anew  the  power  she  exercised  over 
him  and  the  unfathomable  depth  of  his  love  which  each 
fresh  thrust  at  his  heart  revealed  to  her. 

"  I  came  here,"  she  slowly  resumed,  "  to  ask  what 
you  think  of  Chiquita?  " 

"  Think !  "  he  burst  forth  savagely,  aroused  almost 
to  a  pitch  of  desperation  by  her  irritating  manner. 
"  Do  you  take  me  for  as  big  a  fool  as  Don  Felipe,  or — " 
your  father?  he  was  about  to  add,  but  checked  himself 


319 

just  in  time.  "  When  one  has  known  Chiquita  as  long 
as  I  have,  you  don't  think  things  about  her,  you  know. 
Don  Felipe,"  he  went  on,  "  reminds  me  of  the  naughty 
little  boy  who  one  day,  while  playing  in  a  park,  threw 
mud  on  a  swan,  imagining  that  he  had  besmirched  the 
bird  forever  until  it  dived  under  the  water  and  reap 
peared  again  as  white  as  before.  Why,  even  if  I  at  this 
moment  did  not  possess  the  absolute  proof  of  her  inno 
cence,  nobody  could  ever  persuade  me  to  believe  that 
story.  You  don't  know  the  Indian  as  I  do,  Miss  Van 
Ashton.  The  high-caste  Indian  women  are  quite  as  in 
capable  of  such  things  as  you  are.  It  was  a  devilishly 
clever  stroke  on  Don  Felipe's  part,  I'll  admit,  but  he 
has  deceived  himself  as  thoroughly  as  the  rest  of  the 
world." 

"What  proof  have  you?"  she  asked  with  a  sur 
prised  and  mystified  look,  her  woman's  curiosity  thor 
oughly  aroused.  Dick  chuckled  softly  in  reply. 

"  What  are  you  laughing  at?  "  she  demanded,  not  a 
little  nettled  by  his  manner. 

"  I'm  not  laughing,"  he  answered.  "  I'm  merely 
trying  to  smother  the  rage  you  have  aroused  in  me  by 
dallying  with  me  in  this  manner  when  you  know  per 
fectly  well  that  I  asked  you  to  come  here  to  tell  you 
that  I  — " 

"  Stop  !  "  she  commanded  authoritatively.  "  I  wish 
to  see  that  proof  before  anything  further  passes  be 
tween  us." 

"  Will  you  never  become  serious  ?  "  he  asked,  drawing 
an  envelope  from  his  pocket,  the  contents  of  which  he 
had  shown  Captain  Forest.  "  It's  strange,"  he  con" 


320  WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE 

tinued,  "  that  this  document  should  concern  you  as  well 
as  Don  Felipe  and  Chiquita." 

"What  do  you  mean?"  she  asked  in  astonishment. 
Again  he  laughed  softly  by  way  of  reply. 

"  It's  funny  you  should  get  mixed  up  in  their  af 
fairs!" 

"  I  don't  understand  you,"  she  interrupted,  more 
mystified  and  irritated  than  ever.  "  Give  me  that  let 
ter,  Mr.  Yankton ! "  she  demanded,  holding  out  her 
hand. 

"  Then  step  out  into  the  light,  please,  you  lovely, 
tantalizing  witch,"  he  answered,  drawing  the  papers 
from  the  envelope  and  handing  them  to  her.  "  If  I 
didn't  love  you  to  distraction,  I  wouldn't  stand  this 
sort  of  thing  a  minute  longer.  God !  "  he  cried,  glancing 
heavenward,  "  you'll  be  the  death  of  me  yet." 

"Have  you  forgotten,  Mr.  Yankton?"  she  asked 
calmly,  her  face  turning  a  delicate  crimson. 

"  Then  read  —  read !  "  he  cried  in  desperation, 
scarcely  able  to  control  himself.  She  knew  it  could 
not  last  much  longer.  She  slowly  unfolded  the  large 
sheets  of  paper  and  began  to  read  their  contents  in 
the  moonlight. 

"  Aloud,  please,"  he  said. 

"Why  aloud?" 

"  Oh,  just  as  you  please !  " 

"  Very  well,  if  you  wish  it.  '  Dear  Dick,'  she  be 
gan  with  a  slight  hesitancy.  *  When  this  reaches  you 
I  shall  have  passed  over  the  border  to  that  unknown 
range  from  whence  nobody  ever  returns.  Enclosed 
you  will  find  the  record  of  Don  Felipe  Ramirez's  and 


WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE          321 

Pepita  Delaguerra's  marriage  which,  at  Don  Felipe's 
instigation,  I  stole  from  the  register  in  the  church  at 
Onava,  giving  him  a  copy  of  the  same  which  he  de 
stroyed,  believing  it  to  be  the  original.  I  did  this  with 
the  intention  of  extorting  money  from  him  later  on.  I 
and  Joaquin  Flores  and  his  wife  were  the  only  wit 
nesses  to  the  marriage.  But  there  is  a  sequel.  Pe 
pita  gave  birth  to  a  child,  a  girl,  after  Felipe  deserted 
her.  I  learned  later  that  Chiquita  and  the  two  Flores 
concealed  it  somewhere  in  one  of  the  Indian  pueblos  near 
La  Jara,  as  they  feared  Don  Felipe  would  make  way 
with  the  child  should  he  learn  of  its  existence.* 

"  How  strange ! "  exclaimed  Bessie  excitedly. 
"  Why,  that  was  Don  Felipe's  own  child  which  he  in 
troduced  this  evening  and  said  was  Chiquita's." 

"  Exactly,"  said  Dick,  quietly. 

"  But  I  don't  see  what  all  this  has  to  do  with  me,"  she 
added. 

"  Proceed,  please,"  he  answered.  "  That's  not  the 
only  surprise  his  letter  contains." 

Glancing  down  at  the  sheets  once  more  she  re 
sumed  : 

"  '  You  will  also  be  greatly  surprised  to  learn  that 
the  young  lady  who  was  present  on  the  day  you  saved 
my  life  and  whose  name  I  asked,  is  my  sister.' 

"  The  insinuation  is  infamous !  "  she  cried,  letting  the 
papers  fall  to  the  ground. 

"  Miss  Van  Ashton,"  he  interrupted,  calmly  stooping 
and  picking  up  the  papers  and  handing  them  to  her 
again,  "  you  forget  —  you  are  reading  the  confession 
of  a  dying  man." 


322  WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE 

"  His  sister !  "  she  continued  indignantly.  "  It  can't 
be  possible  —  I  never  had  a  brother !  " 

"  Please  proceed,  Miss  Van  Ashton,"  he  replied. 
Amazed  and  bewildered,  Bessie  excitedly  resumed  the 
reading  of  the  strange  letter. 

"  *  My  sister  never  knew  me  because  I  left  home 
shortly  after  she  was  born;  but,  notwithstanding,  I 
recognized  her  the  instant  I  set  eyes  on  her,  not  only 
owing  to  the  presence  of  my  father  that  day,  but  to  the 
remarkable  resemblance  she  bears  to  my  mother.  She 
is  the  living  image  of  her.' '  Bessie  paused,  overcome 
with  agitation. 

"  How  very  remarkable,"  she  said,  as  if  to  herself. 
"  Every  one  who  knew  my  mother  says  we  resemble 
one  another  very  closely  in  manner  as  well  as  in  looks. 
My  father  always  keeps  our  photographs  placed  side 
by  side  on  his  desk  at  home.  Except  for  the  difference 
in  the  style  of  dress,  it  is  almost  impossible  to  tell 
which  is  which.  What  he  says  does  sound  true,"  she 
admitted.  "  Yet  — " 

"  There  can  be  no  doubt  of  it,"  broke  in  Dick. 
Again  Bessie  looked  down  at  the  papers  and  resumed: 

"  '  Before  I  breathe  my  last,  Dick,  I  want  to  tell  you 
that  I  have  discovered  the  lead  to  the  old  Esmeralda 
mine ;  the  enclosed  chart  will  guide  you  to  it.  Tell  my 
sister  that  half  of  it  belongs  to  her  and  the  other  half 
to  Pepita's  child  if  you  are  able  to  find  her.  Perhaps 
this  one  and  only  generous  act  of  my  selfish  life  will 
atone  somewhat  for  my  many  misdeeds.  Good-by, 
Dick,  and  God  bless  you.'  " 


WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE          323 

"  You  needn't  read  that ! "  he  interrupted.  But 
without  heeding  him,  she  continued: 

"  '  You  are  the  best  and  bravest  fellow  alive.  Good- 
by,  Dick,  again,  for  the  last  time. 

"  '  Harry  Van  Ashton,  better  known  to  the  world  as 
Bob  Carlton,  gambler  and  — '  The  letter  ended  ab 
ruptly.  A  sob  broke  from  Bessie.  Two  bright  tears 
glistened  like  jewels  in  the  moonlight  on  her  long  lashes 
and  then  stole  silently  down  her  cheeks. 

"  Don't  take  it  so  hard,  Miss  Van  Ashton,"  he  said. 
"  Your  brother  was  wild,  but  not  so  bad  as  the  world 
thought  him." 

"  My  poor  brother !  "  she  murmured. 

"  I  am  sure,"  he  resumed  after  a  little,  "  that  when 
your  brother  looked  into  your  eyes  that  day,  his  man 
hood  reasserted  itself;  that  he  repented  and  threw  off 
his  past  life  like  an  old  garment,  and  from  that  moment, 
stood  prepared  to  enter  the  presence  of  his  Maker." 

'  You  are  very  good  to  say  that,"  she  answered,  look 
ing  up  at  him  with  shining  eyes. 

"  No,  it's  not  good  of  me  at  all,"  he  returned.  "  I 
love  you  too  much  to  say  anything  but  what  I  know  to 
be  true."  She  did  not  reply,  but  remained  lost  in 
thought,  her  eyes  cast  on  the  ground. 

"  Bessie ! "  he  exclaimed  passionately,  drawing 
nearer  to  her.  "  Why  do  you  hesitate  ?  You  know  that 
I  understand  you  better  than  any  one  else  ever  could. 
You  know  you  love  me !  "  She  knew  her  moment  had 
come ;  that  she  must  answer  him  for  all  time,  and 
strive  as  she  would,  she  could  not  conceal  her  con- 


324 

fusion.  He  did  not  know  how  intense  was  the  struggle 
going  on  within  her,  nor  realize  what  it  meant  to  her  to 
give  up  the  life  she  had  known  always. 

"  And  what  if  I  told  you,"  she  said  at  length,  her  eyes 
still  downcast,  "  that  I  care  more  for  you  than  any 
thing  else  in  this  world,  Dick?"  pronouncing  his  name 
aloud  for  the  first  time.  "  What  would  you  say  then  ?  " 

"  That  I  will  love  you  for  all  time,  Sweetheart ! 
That  I  will  make  you  the  happiest  woman  in  the  world !  " 
he  cried,  his  arms  closing  about  her,  and  kissing  her 
full  on  the  lips. 

"  When  we  are  married,"  he  said  at  last,  "  we'll 
start  in  search  of  the  Esmeralda,  the  famous  old  Span 
ish  mine  that  was  destroyed  by  the  earthquake,  and  if, 
as  your  brother  said,  he  really  found  the  lead  again,  you 
and  Don  Felipe's  child  will  be  the  two  richest  women  in 
Chihuahua." 

"  Then  let  it  be  soon,  Dick !  "  she  answered.  "  Oh ! 
I  know  I've  been  perfectly  horrid !  "  she  cried,  flinging 
her  arms  about  his  neck  in  a  fresh  outburst,  and  kissing 
him  again  and  again.  "  But  I'll  make  it  up  to  you, 
Dick !  I'll  show  you  how  Bessie  Van  Ashton  can  love ! " 
There  was  another  long  silence,  during  which  each  could 
hear  the  beating  of  the  other's  heart.  Then  looking  up 
with  a  pained,  disheartened  expression  on  her  face,  she 
said :  "  I'm  sorry  I  can't  come  to  you  with  a  fortune, 
Dick.  My  father  will  cast  me  off,  and  all  I  now  possess 
in  this  world  are  you  and  the  clothes  on  my  back." 

"  Why,  you  sweet,  pathetic  little  beggar ! "  he  ex 
claimed,  sealing  her  lips  with  a  kiss. 

"  He  said  he  would  rather  see  me  dead  at  his  feet 


WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE          325 

than  married  to  you,"  she  went  on.  "  Of  course,  if  you 
were  immensely  wealthy,  he  might  learn  to  tolerate  you 
in  time.  We're  all  like  that,  you  know,  but  as  things 
are,  we'll  have  to  shift  as  best  we  can." 

"  Well,  I  don't  lay  claim  to  much,"  he  Said,  restrain 
ing  his  mirth  with  difficulty.  "  There's  the  Esmeralda, 
you  know,  but  even  if  that  fails  us,  there's  no  cause  for 
immediate  worry.  We'll  find  a  modest  little  hovel 
somewhere  that  is  large  enough  to  contain  our  love." 
'And  then  he  laughed  long  and  loud,  laughed  as  he  had 
never  laughed  before. 

"  What  are  you  laughing  at  ?  "  she  inquired,  with  a 
dawning  suspicion  that  he  was  keeping  something  from 
her. 

"  Oh,  nothing,"  he  answered  at  length.  "  You'll 
forgive  me,  I'm  sure,  when  I  say,  that  I  can't  help 
thinking  what  an  ass  your  father  is ! "  And  Bessie 
Van  Ashton  stepped  into  a  bigger  life  than  she  had  ever 
known. 


XXXV 

PERHAPS    all    was    not    yet    lost.     The    Padre's 
words   and  attitude  acted  like   a  wonderful  elixir 
upon   Chiquita.     They  buoyed  her  up,  lifted  her  soul 
from  the  dust  where  it  had  been  flung  and  trampled 
upon. 

The  house  oppressed  her,  and  sleep  being  impossible, 
she  opened  the  door  and  stepped  out  into  the  garden 
and  wandered  along  the  paths  that  led  in  and  out 
among  the  flowers  and  shrubs,  inhaling  the  delicious 
night  air,  faintly  perfumed  with  the  delicate  fragrance 
of  mignonette  and  heliotrope  and  a  few  last  roses. 

The  fresh  air  and  the  beauty  and  quiet  of  the  night 
soothed  her.  She  felt  her  strength  return,  and  a  great 
calm  took  possession  of  her  as  she  moved  to  and  fro  in 
the  moonlight,  now  casting  her  eyes  toward  the  stars, 
now  downward  at  the  wan,  drooping  heads  of  the  flow 
ers  which  swayed  gently  in  the  faint  night  breeze.  Her 
face  radiantly  beautiful,  her  jewels  flashing  against 
the  pale  white  setting  of  her  dress  and  her  tawny  skin, 
she  resembled  more  the  lovely  ghost  of  some  long-de 
parted  Spanish  woman  that  had  returned  to  earth  to  re 
visit  familiar  haunts,  than  one  still  among  the  living. 

What  was  he  doing  now?  she  asked  herself.  It  was 
impossible  that  he  should  continue  to  believe  in  her. 
It  was  more  than  could  be  expected;  no  one  but  Padre 

326 


WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE  327 

Antonio  was  capable  of  that.  Just  then  she  heard  the 
sound  of  footsteps  on  the  walk  outside  the  wall  and  a 
moment  later,  the  click  of  the  latch  on  the  gate  as  it 
swung  open.  She  thought  it  must  be  Padre  Antonio 
come  back  again,  and  she  turned  to  meet  him.  A  faint, 
suppressed  cry  escaped  her,  for  there,  just  inside  the 
gate,  stood  Captain  Forest. 

He  had  evidently  not  yet  seen  her  and  paused  as  if 
uncertain  whether  to  advance.  She  stood  in  the  open 
space  beside  the  bench,  just  off  the  pathway  leading 
from  the  gate  to  the  house,  along  which  he  must  ad 
vance  should  he  decide  to  proceed  farther.  A  pale, 
plumy  spray  of  tamarisk  intervened  between  them,  oth 
erwise  he  must  have  seen  her.  For  some  time  he  stood 
silent  and  motionless  as  if  uncertain  what  to  do,  then  he 
began  to  advance  slowly  in  her  direction. 

What  did  he  want?  Why  had  he  come  at  this 
hour?  Her  heart  beat  high  and  she  began  to  tremble 
with  excitement  as  she  watched  him  coming  toward  her. 

Her  wan,  pale  dress  so  closely  resembled  the  moon 
light  in  the  shadow  of  the  tamarisk  that  he  might  have 
passed  her  unnoticed  had  she  not  unconsciously  closed 
her  half-open  fan  which  she  was  nervously  clasping  in 
both  hands.  It  shut  with  a  soft,  faint  snap,  causing 
him  to  stop  and  turn  in  her  direction. 

"  Chiquita !  "  he  cried,  and  springing  forward,  had 
her  in  his  arms  before  she  could  prevent  it. 

"  No,  no ;  you  must  not ! "  she  cried,  overcome  by  his 
suddenness  and  vainly  struggling  to  free  herself. 

"  Chiquita,"  he  went  on  without  heeding  her,  "  I  could 
not  wait  until  morning,  and  came  to  tell  you  again  that 


328  WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE 

I  believe  in  you  —  that  I  love  you  —  that  nothing  but 
death  can  separate  us  in  this  life!" 

She  saw  and  felt  the  uselessness  of  struggling  against 
his  great  strength  and  will,  so  she  relaxed  her  efforts 
and  became  quite  passive  in  his  arms,  her  face  cast 
down.  Besides,  it  seemed  as  though  all  her  strength 
had  left  her.  She  trembled  so  violently  and  felt  so 
weak  that  she  must  have  sunk  to  the  ground  had  he  not 
supported  her. 

"  Sweetheart !  "  he  cried  more  passionately  than  ever. 
"  What  do  we  care  for  the  world  ?  Look  up  and  say 
you  will  come  with  me !  "  Her  soul  thrilled  with  the 
rapture  his  words  caused  her. 

"  Jack,"  she  said  at  length,  raising  her  head  and 
looking  up  into  his  face,  "  I  love  you  too  much  to  do 
that.  Not  until  my  name  has  been  cleared—  They 
heard  a  rustling  sound  on  the  other  side  of  the  tama 
risk.  Another  moment,  and  the  long,  plumy  sprays 
parted  and  Don  Felipe  stepped  into  the  pathway.  His 
face  was  ashen  pale  and  wore  the  look  of  a  thoroughly 
desperate  man. 

"  Captain  Forest,"  he  began,  breaking  the  painful  si 
lence  that  ensued,  "  I  have  vowed  that  you  shall  never 
marry  her.  I  give  you  one  more  chance,"  and  he  raised 
his  right  arm  and  pointed  toward  the  gate.  "  Go,  while 
there  is  yet  time !  "  he  commanded,  his  voice  vibrant  with 
passion.  "  Go  back  to  the  Posada  at  once  and  saddle 
your  horse  and  leave  the  country  this  very  night.  If 
you  do  not  — " 

"  You  think  to  intimidate  me  ?  "  interrupted  the  Cap- 


829 

tain,  quietly  releasing  Chiquita  from  his  arms  and  con 
fronting  him. 

"Once  more  —  will  you  go?"  demanded  Don  Felipe 
in  a  harsh,  fierce  voice. 

"  No  !  "  answered  the  Captain. 

"  Then  your  blood  be  upon  your  own  head !  "  he 
cried,  and  without  a  moment's  warning,  he  drew  a  long 
knife  from  his  inner  breast  pocket  and  rushed  furiously 
upon  him. 

"  Coward,  to  attack  an  unarmed  man ! "  cried  the 
Captain,  springing  aside  just  in  time  to  avoid  his  thrust. 
Without  replying,  Don  Felipe  whirled  with  the  swift 
ness  of  a  cat  and  rushed  at  him  again.  The  Captain 
glanced  hurriedly  about  him  in  search  of  some  weapon 
of  defense.  Close  at  hand  he  espied  a  small,  fragile, 
gilt  chair  that  had  been  left  there  by  chance  during  the 
day.  Seizing  it  by  the  back  with  both  hands  he  raised 
it  aloft  and  aimed  a  swift  blow  at  his  adversary,  but  the 
latter  cleverly  dodged  it  by  dropping  on  one  knee.  The 
chair  crashed  to  the  ground  with  terrific  force,  its  frag 
ments  flying  in  all  directions. 

Captain  Forest  was  a  wonderfully  active  man  for  his 
size.  Before  Don  Felipe  was  on  his  feet  again,  he 
sprang  forward  and  seized  his  right  arm.  The  two 
men  grappled  desperately  for  some  moments,  but  what 
was  Don  Felipe  in  the  hands  of  a  giant.  Suddenly  the 
knife  went  whirling  back  over  the  Captain's  shoulder, 
forming  a  glittering  half-circle  in  the  moonlight  as  it 
fell  among  the  flowers.  Then  Captain  Forest  lifted  Don 
Felipe  with  both  hands  as  easily  as  he  would  have  lifted  a 


330  WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE 

child  and  hurled  him  violently  to  the  ground  several 
feet  away.  A  smothered  cry  of  pain  escaped  him. 

"Lie  there,  dog!  "  said  the  Captain,  contemptuously. 

"  Not  so,  Captain  Forest  —  we're  not  done  yet !  "  an 
swered  Don  Felipe,  rising  with  difficulty  on  one  knee. 
From  his  hip  pocket  he  drew  a  pistol. 

"  Don  Felipe  Ramirez !  "  came  Chiquita's  voice,  ring 
ing  clear;  but  he  did  not  heed  the  warning.  Instantly 
her  hand  went  to  her  breast  and  there  were  two  almost 
simultaneous  shots.  Don  Felipe  sprang  into  the  air  with 
a  loud  cry,  alighting  upright  upon  both  feet.  He 
gasped,  staggered  forward  a  pace,  and  then  sank  down 
on  his  knees.  Again  he  gasped,  clutched  desperately 
at  his  heart  with  his  left  hand,  and  then,  with  a  last  su 
preme  effort,  slowly  raised  his  weapon  with  his  trem 
bling  hand  and  once  more  took  aim  at  the  Captain. 
There  was  another  quick  flash  and  report,  and  Don 
Felipe  Ramirez  lay  dead  on  the  ground  between  them. 

In  silence  they  gazed  at  one  another  across  Don 
Felipe's  body.  The  Captain  was  about  to  speak  when 
they  were  startled  by  a  low  moan  just  behind  them,  and, 
turning,  they  saw  Blanch  sink  slowly  to  the  bench  in  a 
sitting  posture,  her  head  resting  on  her  arm  across  the 
back  of  the  bench.  In  an  instant  they  were  at  her  side. 

"  Blanch !  "  cried  the  Captain  in  consternation  at  the 
sight  of  the  blood  that  was  oozing  slowly  from  her  left 
side,  and  which  Chiquita  was  vainly  endeavoring  to 
stanch  with  her  handkerchief.  At  the  sound  of  his 
voice,  she  slowly  opened  her  eyes. 

"  Forgive  me,"  she  whispered  in  an  almost  inaudible 
tone,  as  they  knelt  on  either  side  of  her,  supporting  her. 


V". 


"  They  were  startled  by  a  low  moan  and  saw  Blanch  sink  slowly  to  the 
bench." 

Page  330 


WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE          331 

For  some  moments  she  lay  quite  motionless,  then  a 
slight  tremor  passed  through  her  and  with  a  little  sigh 
like  that  of  a  child's,  her  head  slipped  down  upon  Chi- 
quita's  breast.  The  bullet  which  Don  Felipe  had  in 
tended  for  the  Captain  had  passed  through  her  heart; 
the  penalty  she  paid  for  giving  the  signal  in  the  patio. 

The  moonlight  fell  full  across  her  face,  which,  con 
trary  to  what  one  might  suppose,  wore  an  expression 
of  peace  and  calm,  almost  a  smile,  like  one  in  a  dream. 

"  How  beautiful  she  is !  "  murmured  Chiquita,  hold 
ing  her  tenderly  in  her  arms. 

"  Would  to  God  she  had  been  spared ! "  answered  the 
Captain,  his  voice  choking  with  emotion.  Yet  each  felt 
as  they  gazed  on  her  upturned  face,  whose  expression 
was  rather  that  of  sleep  than  of  death,  that  she  was  bet 
ter  off  thus ;  for  what  did  life  hold  for  her? 


XXXVI 

FOR  most  men  death  ends  all  things,  but  for  those 
whose  souls  are  illumined  by  the  unquenchable  flame 
of  faith,  death  is  but  the  beginning  of  life. 

The  news  of  the  tragedy,  following  swift  upon  that  of 
Juan  Ramon's  death,  spread  like  wildfire,  fairly  taking 
the  people's  breath  away,  and  throwing  the  community 
into  a  tumult  of  excitement.  Not  since  the  days  when 
the  victorious  American  armies  had  entered  Mexico  and 
laid  waste  the  land,  had  there  been  such  a  commotion  in 
the  old  town. 

The  community  was  shaken  to  its  center.  What 
would  happen  next  ?  Old  women  paused  in  the  midst  of 
their  chatter  and,  crossing  themselves,  said  an  extra  ave 
as  a  protection  against  the  Evil  One ;  for  no  one  knew 
who  would  be  taken  next. 

Don  Felipe  Ramirez,  the  handsomest  and  wealthiest 
and  most  influential  man  in  Chihuahua,  dead  —  at  the 
hand  of  a  woman  —  an  Indian ! 

Most  people  admitted  that  he  had  merited  death. 
That  his  end  was  a  just  punishment  for  his  misdeeds, 
but  then,  had  it  not  been  for  the  woman  who  had  wrecked 
his  life,  how  different  his  end  might  have  been ! 

Juan  Ramon  would  be  missed  for  a  day  at  the  gam 
ing  tables,  but  the  beautiful  American  Sefiorita  —  why 
should  she  have  paid  the  price  of  blood?  It  was  too 

332 


WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE  333 

much.  The  popular  outburst  was  tremendous,  quite  be 
yond  Padre  Antonio's  influence  or  control.  The  evil 
and  tragedy  which  the  witch  seemed  to  draw  with  her 
in  her  train  far  outweighed  the  good  she  had  accom 
plished  since  her  advent  in  the  town.  And  if  the  grand 
Senor,  Captain  Forest,  of  an  alien  race,  still  chose  to 
remain  in  the  place,  why,  let  him  look  to  his  personal 
safety  if  he  still  set  store  upon  his  life. 

Such  was  popular  sentiment,  and  out  of  the  countless 
maledictions  that  were  heaped  upon  the  dark  woman  and 
the  man  she  had  bewitched,  there  grew  that  sullen  and 
ominous  silence  of  presentiment  like  that  preceding 
a  storm,  and  which  boded  but  one  end  to  them  both  — 
death. 

Jose  and  Dick  were  the  first  to  apprise  the  Captain 
of  the  true  state  of  affairs,  although  he  had  not  re 
mained  insensible  to  the  threatening  looks  and  dark, 
sullen  faces  that  greeted  him  on  every  hand. 

"  The  place  has  become  too  hot  to  hold  you,  old  man," 
said  Dick.  "  You  and  Chiquita  had  better  go  some 
where  for  a  little  pasear.  You'll  find  the  air  in  the 
mountains  more  salubrious  than  here ;  in  fact  —  vamos, 
as  the  Spaniards  say.  Go  to  Padre  Antonio's  house 
at  once,"  he  continued.  "  It's  a  sort  of  a  sanctuary, 
you  know;  you'll  be  safe  there  to-day.  If  you  value 
your  life,  don't  set  foot  outside  the  place,  and  I'd  even 
be  chary  about  picking  flowers  in  the  garden,"  he  added 
in  his  droll  way.  "  To-night,  Jose  and  I  will  have  your 
horses  ready  and  waiting  for  you  in  the  canon  at  the 
foot  of  the  trail  which  leads  to  the  top  of  the  mesa 
overlooking  the  valley,  You  must  get  away  under 


334.  WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE 

cover  of  the  dusk  before  the  moon  rises.  Old  Manuela 
will  give  you  the  signal  when  to  depart." 

"  Dick,  you  are  the  most  ingenious  mortal  in  the 
world,"  answered  the  Captain.  "  You  are  as  good  as 
a  mother  to  me.  How  did  you  ever  think  of  it?  " 

"Oh!  don't  thank  me,"  returned  Dick.  "I  didn't 
think  of  it;  I  never  have  any  ideas.  It's  Jose's  plan 
entirely." 

"  The  deuce !  It  does  sound  like  you,  camarada!  " 
he  ejaculated,  turning  to  Jose  who  had  smoked  his 
cigarillo  in  silence  while  listening  to  Dick's  words.  "  The 
scheme  sounds  well,"  he  continued  after  some  moments' 
reflection.  "  And  yet  it  seems  to  me  you  have 
overlooked  something  —  the  most  important  thing  of 
all." 

"What?"  asked  Dick. 

"  How  are  you  going  to  get  the  horses  there  with 
out  attracting  attention?  It's  just  possible  that  the  en 
tire  populace  might  escort  you  there  and  then  hang  all 
four  of  us  when  Chiquita  and  I  arrive." 

"  Ah !  I  never  thought  of  that,"  replied  Dick,  flick 
ing  the  ash  from  his  cigar  and  exchanging  glances  with 
Jose.  "  I  always  said  you  had  the  imagination  of  a 
poet,  Jack.  But  it  takes  an  Indian  to  think  of  such 
things ;  the  horses  are  concealed  already  in  the  canon, 
a  quarter  of  a  mile  from  the  trail." 

"  Si,  C  a  pit  an.  I  took  them  there  last  night,"  said 
Jose. 

"Last  night?" 

"  Yes.  You  see,  it  was  this  way.  I  saw  the  fight  last 
night  •—" 


WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE  335 

"You  did?" 

"  Si,  Capitan.  It  was  a  glorious  fight,  the  greatest 
fight  I  ever  saw.  I  followed  Don  Felipe  last  night  and 
surely  would  have  killed  him  had  I  not  seen  the  Senorita 
draw  her  weapon.  I  knew  that  it  was  her  right  to  kill 
him." 

"  You  observe  Jose's  exquisite  sense  of  discrimina 
tion,"  interrupted  Dick.  "  It's  the  etiquette  of  the 
land,"  he  added  with  a  twinkle  in  his  eye,  his  face  be 
traying  not  so  much  as  the  suggestion  of  a  smile.  Cap 
tain  Forest  could  have  laughed  at  Dick's  irresistible 
humor  were  it  not  for  the  terrible  tragedy  which  rested 
heavily  upon  him. 

"  Well,"  continued  Jose,  "  while  you  and  the  Senorita 
stood  beside  the  beautiful  Americana,  I  bethought  me 
that  it  was  about  time  we  were  leaving  this  place.  You 
did  not  know  that  the  two  women,  Manuela  and  Juana, 
and  the  Padre's  gardener,  Sebastiano,  also  witnessed 
the  shooting.  I  told  Sebastiano  to  get  the  Senorita's 
horse  out  of  the  stable  at  once  and  wait  outside  in 
the  shadow  of  the  wall  on  the  far  side  of  the  garden 
until  I  returned.  I  then  hurried  back  here  and  got 
away  unobserved  with  our  horses,  picking  up  the 
Senorita's  and  Sebastiano  on  the  way  to  the  canon  where 
I  left  them  in  the  latter's  charge.  They  will  hardly  be 
missed  to-day,  I  think,"  he  added ;  "  the  excitement  is 
too  great.  Go  now  quietly  to  Padre  Antonio's  and  wait 
there  until  Manuela  gives  you  the  word  to  depart." 
Jose  paused.  Then  casting  a  quick  glance  about  him, 
he  took  a  fresh  puff  at  his  cigarillo  and  said :  "  Until 
then,  a  Dios,  Sefior  Capitan!  "  and  assuming  an  indif- 


336 

ferent  air,  as  though  nothing  unusual  had  occurred,  he 
sauntered  quietly  away. 

"  That  man's  a  genius !  "  said  Dick,  looking  after  him 
until  he  disappeared  around  the  corner  of  the  house. 

"  It  was  a  lucky  day  for  you  when  you  picked  him 
up.  If  you  get  away  at  all  to-night,  you'll  owe  your 
lives  to  him.  Nothing  but  his  wits  could  have  saved 
you.  You  had  better  be  going  now,"  he  added.  "  Go 
directly  to  the  Padre's  and  attract  as  little  attention  as 
possible  on  the  way. 

"  Este  noche,  amigo  mio  —  to-night,  my  friend,"  he 
concluded  in  Spanish,  and  turning,  lounged  carelessly 
through  the  doorway  into  the  house. 


XXXVII 

t  4  T  HEAR  nothing,"  said  Jose,  rising  from  the 
•••  ground  where  he  had  been  lying  flat  with  his  ear 
close  to  the  earth. 

"  They  have  given  us  up !  "  exclaimed  the  Captain, 
turning  in  the  saddle  and  addressing  Chiquita  who  also 
had  been  scanning  their  back  trail  in  the  effort  to  dis 
cover  a  sign  of  their  lost  pursuers. 

"  We  have  tired  them  out,"  she  answered,  lowering 
her  hand  from  her  eyes. 

They  had  escaped  —  they  were  free.  Padre  Antonio 
had  married  them  on  the  afternoon  of  the  previous  day. 

"  If  I  am  still  alive,  and  God  grant  that  it  may  be 
so,"  he  said  on  parting,  "  I  shall  see  you  next  spring 
when  I  visit  the  Missions  in  the  North." 

The  flight  had  been  a  swift  and  perilous  one.  They 
had  traveled  the  entire  night  and  day,  pausing  only 
long  enough  to  allow  their  horses  short  breathing  spells 
and  time  to  slake  their  thirst  at  the  springs  and  streams 
they  encountered  in  their  flight.  Like  their  horses,  all 
three  were  thoroughly  tired,  and  their  clothes  torn  and 
dust  begrimed. 

"  We'll  camp  yonder,  Jose,"  said  the  Captain,  point 
ing  to  a  thick  group  of  pines  that  grew  on  the  opposite 
side  of  the  stream  on  whose  bank  they  had  halted.  They 
had  arrived  at  the  foot  of  the  Sierra  Madres  from  whose 

337 


338 

side  the  stream  burst  and  along  whose  banks  their  trail 
led  to  the  upper  world  where  it  dropped  down  again  on 
the  other  side  of  the  great  mountainous  divide  into 
Sonora. 

"  It's  like  the  old  days !  "  cried  Chiquita,  laughing  as 
they  splashed  through  the  stream  to  the  opposite  bank, 
the  water  rising  to  their  saddle-girths.  Drawing  rein  at 
the  outer  rim  of  the  pines,  they  dismounted  and  removed 
their  saddles  and  packs,  the  latter  consisting  of  a  pair 
of  blankets  apiece  and  a  week's  rations  equally  dis 
tributed  among  them;  coffee,  sugar,  bacon,  beans  and 
flour  and  a  few  necessary  utensils.  These  they  carried 
into  the  center  of  the  grove  and  deposited  in  a  circle 
on  the  ground. 

Jose  led  away  the  horses  and  while  he  was  occupied 
in  picketing  them,  the  Captain  gathered  an  armful  of 
dry  wood  for  the  fire,  and  then  picking  up  a  canvas 
bucket,  strolled  to  the  river  and  filled  it  with  water. 

Chiquita  had  already  lit  the  fire  when  he  returned. 
She  filled  the  coffee  pot  with  water,  cut  some  slices  of 
bacon  and  tossed  them  into  a  pan  which  she  placed  on 
the  fire  and  then  began  to  mix  some  flour  and  water. 
The  Captain  leaned  against  the  trunk  of  one  of  the 
trees  and  rolling  a  cigarette,  lit  it,  watching  her  the 
while.  Chiquita  laughed  softly,  but  said  nothing  while 
engaged  in  the  process  of  bread-making.  This  homely 
touch  of  camp-life  told  plainer  than  words  how  thor 
oughly  they  had  come  down  to  earth  and  again  were 
facing  the  wholesome  realities  of  life.  When  the  dough 
was  of  the  right  consistency,  she  molded  it  into  biscuits, 
placed  them  in  a  deep  pan,  and  raking  some  coals  from 


WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE          339 

the  fire,  set  the  pan  upon  them,  also  depositing  some 
coals  on  the  top  of  the  cover.  After  giving  the  bacon 
a  final  turn  in  the  pan,  she  set  it  to  one  side  close  to 
the  fire  where  it  would  keep  warm. 

She  then  rose  to  her  feet  and  stood  erect.  As  she  did 
so,  one  of  the  great  strands  of  her  hair  which  had  be 
come  loosened  during  their  flight,  fell  in  a  soft  curling 
mass  of  blue  jet  down  her  back  to  within  a  few  inches 
of  her  ankles.  Captain  Forest  did  not  know  then  that 
it  was  a  sign  of  her  royal  lineage. 

Once  upon  a  time  in  the  dim  past,  so  far  back  that 
nobody  could  remember  when  it  had  occurred,  a  Tewana 
woman  had  given  birth  to  a  beautiful  girl  child  with 
wonderful  hair  in  the  same  year  that  a  wandering  star 
with  a  great  tail  had  appeared  in  the  heavens.  The  coin 
cidence  seemed  nothing  short  of  miraculous  to  the  people. 
The  Sachems  of  the  tribe  pronounced  the  child  to  be  con 
secrated  and  chosen  to  rule  over  them  by  the  gods.  So 
it  had  been  decreed,  and  ever  since  then,  all  Tewana 
women  who  had  ruled  over  the  people  had  possessed  this 
distinctive  mark  of  their  royal  lineage  and  bore  the  name, 
"  Flaming  Star." 

Chiquita  crossed  over  to  where  the  Captain  still  stood 
leaning  against  the  tree  and,  pausing  before  him,  looked 
up  into  his  face  and  said :  "  What  are  you  thinking 
of,  Sweetheart?"  He  flung  his  arms  about  her  and 
kissed  her. 

"  I  am  still  wondering,"  he  answered,  "  how  it 
all  happened.  It  seems  so  strange,  and  yet  so  nat 
ural." 

"  Just  what  I,  too,  have  been  thinking,"  she  returned. 


340          WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE 

"  And  yet  it  is  no  more  remarkable  than  what  our  en 
tire  lives  have  been.  It  could  not  be  otherwise." 

"  No,"  he  replied.  "  I  would  not  have  it  different 
for  worlds.  It's  just  as  it  should  be  —  just  as  it  has 
been  decreed." 

"  Come ! "  she  said,  leading  him  over  to  where  her 
pack  lay  on  the  ground.  "  I've  got  something  for  you," 
and  kneeling  on  the  ground,  she  began  unrolling  her 
blankets,  out  of  which  she  took  a  small  package  which, 
on  being  opened,  contained  two  pairs  of  beautifully 
beaded  moccasins ;  one  pair  of  which  she  handed  to  him. 

"  It's  just  like  you,  Chiquita  mia! "  he  exclaimed. 
"  I  always  wear  them  in  camp,  but  in  the  hurry  to  get 
away,  I  forgot  mine.  I'm  glad  I  forgot  them  though," 
he  added,  holding  up  the  moccasins  and  admiring  them. 
"  How  did  you  come  to  think  of  them?  " 

"  I  can't  say,"  she  answered.  "  One  afternoon  about 
a  month  ago  while  at  the  Posada,  I  noticed  your  foot 
print  in  the  gravel  path  in  the  garden  where  you  had 
been  talking  to  the  girls  but  a  few  moments  before. 
Things,  as  you  know,  were  rather  uncertain  then,  never 
theless,  something  impelled  me  to  take  the  measure  and 
make  them ;  thinking  that  possibly  you  might  want  them 
some  day.  Besides,  it  was  such  sweet  work,  you  know," 
she  added  with  a  little  laugh. 

"  Chiquita  —  you're  a  wonderful  woman !  You  not 
only  seem  to  be  able  to  do  everything,  but  you  think 
of  everything  as  well,"  and  kneeling  on  the  ground  be 
fore  her,  he  drew  off  her  riding  boots  and  slipped  her 
moccasins  on  her  feet. 

"  It  is  the  bridal  gift  of  an  Indian  girl  to  her  hus- 


341 


band,"  she  said  caressingly.  "  And  signifies  that  they 
shall  tread  the  same  path  together  through  life." 

"What  could  be  more  beautiful!  "  he  returned,  pull 
ing  off  his  boots  and  drawing  on  his  own.  "  Ah !  " 
he  continued,  "  it  was  worth  waiting  for  you  Chiquita 
mia!  The  long  years  of  uncertainty  and  suffering  seem 
as  nothing,  now  that  I  look  back  upon  them  and  you 
have  come  into  my  life." 

Just  then  Jose  returned  from  the  work  of  picketing 
the  horses  and  the  three  sat  down  to  supper. 


XXXVIII 

(  £  T  SN'T  it  strange  how  easily  one  can  return  to  the 
•*•  natural  life  if  one  has  known  it  before?  "  said 
Chiquita  later  in  the  evening,  as  the  three  lay  stretched 
on  their  blankets  around  the  small  fire  which  Jose  had 
kindled  in  the  center  of  the  grove,  and  watched  the 
flickering  flames  and  dancing  shadows  against  the  dark 
pine  boughs  surrounding  them. 

"  The  life  of  yesterday  has  fallen  from  me,"  she  con 
tinued,  gazing  pensively  into  the  fire  whose  red  glare 
illumined  her  beautiful  bronze  features. 

"  Yes,  you  are  an  Indian  once  more,  Chiquita  mia" 
said  the  Captain. 

"  Ah !  you  are  as  much  of  an  Indian  as  Jose  or  my 
self  !  "  she  retorted  gayly.  "  What  a  pity  you  didn't 
know  the  life  before  the  land  was  conquered  and  tamed 
by  the  White  man !  Verily,  a  glory  has  passed  from 
this  earth !  "  A  peculiar  light  shone  in  Jose's  eyes  as 
he  listened  to  her  words.  He  seemed  on  the  point  of 
speaking,  but  did  not.  He  smiled  and  rolled  a  fresh 
cigarillo,  lighting  it  with  a  pine  twig  which  he  took 
from  the  fire. 

**  Tell  me  why  you  insisted  on  our  coming  this  way, 
Chiquita?  "  asked  the  Captain,  disposing  himself  com 
fortably  on  his  blanket. 

342 


WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE          343 

"  Because  I  want  to  see  my  people  again.  They  are 
the  strongest  and  most  advanced  people  in  Mexico,  and 
we  will  be  safe  with  them  until  things  have  quieted  down. 
Because  I  wanted  you  to  see  where  I  came  from  and 
how  I  lived  before  Padre  Antonio  introduced  me  to  a 
new  world  and  made  of  me  a  woman  that  you  could  love. 
Besides,  we  can  start  from  their  country  on  our  camp 
ing  trip  as  well  as  from  any  other  place.  My  people 
are  not  quite  the  savages  you  probably  think  them. 
But  there  is  something  else,"  she  continued  after  a  pause. 
"  I  was  impelled,  drawn  this  way.  Why,  I  can  not  say, 
but  something  always  kept  pointing  me  toward  the  north 
west.  I  feel  as  though  the  climax  of  our  lives  is  yet 
to  come;  that  we  are  on  the  verge  of  something  great; 
that  our  work  in  life  may  begin  with  them." 

"  Perhaps  it  may  be  so !  "  interrupted  Jose,  no  longer 
able  to  conceal  the  agitation  her  words  aroused  in  him. 
"  That  is,  if  the  vision  of  the  White  Cloud  prove  to 
be  true.  At  any  rate,  my  people  await  your  coming," 
he  added.  At  the  mention  of  the  White  Cloud,  Chi- 
quita  sat  bolt  upright,  regarding  Jose  intently  the  while 
—  then  rose  to  her  feet. 

"  The  White  Cloud  ?  Your  people  ?  "  she  repeated 
excitedly.  "  Then  you  are  a  Tewana?  "  Jose  also  had 
risen  from  his  sitting  posture,  and  .dropping  on  one 
knee  with  face  downward  and  both  arms  extended 
straight  out  before  him  with  the  palms  of  the  hands 
turned  downward,  he  exclaimed  in  the  Tewana  tongue: 
"  Princess,  Flaming  Star  —  I  greet  you !  I  am 
Onakipo,  the  Pine  Tree,  son  of  Ixlao,  the  Swan ! " 
Jose's  attitude  and  manner  of  speech  formed  a  most 


344  WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE 

striking  picture.  He  had  not  even  revealed  his  true 
identity  to  the  Captain. 

Chiquita  had  noticed  the  furtive,  stolen  glances  he  had 
cast  at  her  from  time  to  time  during  the  journey,  a 
thing  strange  in  an  Indian,  and  it  caused  her  some  un 
easiness,  but  now  she  understood.  He  had  just  ac 
knowledged  her  by  his  attitude  of  submission  and  the 
salute  common  to  his  people,  as  their  tribal  head. 

"  You  and  I,  Princess,  were  the  sole  survivors  of  that 
last  battle  in  which  your  father's  band  was  annihilated," 
continued  Jose  in  Spanish,  seating  himself  once  more 
on  the  ground  on  the  other  side  of  the  fire  opposite 
Chiquita  who  again  had  taken  her  place  beside  the  Cap 
tain. 

"  I  do  not  wonder  that  you  did  not  recognize  me," 
he  went  on  after  a  pause,  during  which  he  rolled  and  lit 
a  fresh  cigarillo.  "  I  was  a  mere  boy  at  the  time. 
The  battle,  you  will  remember,  took  place  just  before  sun 
set,  and  when  the  enemy  charged  our  camp,  I  was  struck 
on  the  head,  as  you  see  by  the  scar  over  my  left  eye. 
I  fell  over  a  ledge  of  rock  into  a  gully  below,  alighting 
in  a  thick  clump  of  bushes,  breaking  my  fall  and  sav 
ing  my  life.  Fortunately  the  bushes  concealed  me  from 
view,  causing  the  enemy  to  overlook  me,  else  they  cer 
tainly  had  finished  me  before  departing.  I  lay  uncon 
scious  all  that  night  until  noon  of  the  following  day, 
when  I  awoke.  For  a  long  time  after  awakening  I  was 
too  weak  to  rise,  but  finally  I  managed  to  crawl  to 
the  little  stream  that  ran  at  the  bottom  of  the  gully 
just  below  me.  There  I  slaked  my  thirst  and  washed 


WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE  345 

my  face  and  wound  and  bound  it  up  as  best  I  could. 
All  that  afternoon  I  lay  by  the  stream,  drinking  and 
dipping  my  head  in  the  water  until  evening,  when  I 
regained  sufficient  strength  to  crawl  back  to  the  top 
of  the  great  rock  where  we  made  our  last  stand. 

"  There,  a  ghastly  sight  met  my  eyes.  With  his 
back  against  a  large  bowlder  where  the  enemy  had  placed 
him,  sat  your  father,  the  Whirlwind,  still  dressed  in 
his  war  regalia  and  around  him,  just  as  they  had  fallen, 
lay  our  dead  comrades.  I  counted  them.  There  were 
forty-eight  in  all,  and  as  you  were  not  among  the  dead, 
I  rightly  conjectured,  as  it  soon  afterward  proved,  that 
you  had  been  taken  prisoner.  Three  weeks  later  I  suc 
ceeded  in  reaching  our  people  and  told  the  news.  A 
war  party  was  organized  immediately,  and  I  guided 
it  back  to  the  land  of  the  Ispali  where  after  a  battle, 
we  learned  of  your  capture  and  escape  from  several  of 
the  Ispali  whom  we  succeeded  in  capturing. 

"  That  was  ten  years  ago,  and  ever  since  then,  we 
have  sent  out  runners  each  year  to  visit  the  towns  and 
villages  throughout  the  land  in  the  hope  of  finding  you 
and  bringing  you  back  again  to  rule  over  us ;  for  as  you 
know,  Princess,  you  are  the  last  of  the  royal  blood. 
But  in  vain.  In  spite  of  the  fact  that  the  White  Cloud, 
our  great  Sachem,  said  you  were  still  alive,  that  he  re 
peatedly  saw  you  among  the  living  in  his  visions  and 
predicted  your  return,  we  found  no  trace  of  you.  That 
was  because  we  had  overlooked  Santa  Fe.  It  lies  so  far 
east  of  our  country  that  it  escaped  our  notice.  We 
never  imagined  that  you  had  crossed  the  Sierra  Madres 


346  WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE 

in  your  flight,  and  had  I  not  chanced  to  enter  the  Cap 
tain's  service,  we  probably  never  would  have  heard  of 
you  again. 

"  But  now  I  understand  that  it  was  so  intended  — 
that  the  time  was  not  yet  ripe.  That  the  Great  Spirit 
had  ordained  you  should  not  return  to  your  people  un 
til  you  had  become  worthy  of  the  charge  which  is  about 
to  be  conferred  upon  you,  and  which,  as  you  shall  pres 
ently  learn,  goes  to  prove  the  truth  of  the  subsequent 
prophecies  the  White  Cloud  made  concerning  you."  He 
paused  and  for  some  minutes  gazed  silently  into  the 
fire.  He  had  accompanied  his  narrative  with  intense, 
dramatic  gestures  and  expressions  illustrative  of  its  in 
cidents  ;  a  characteristic  common  to  his  race.  Presently 
a  smile  lit  up  his  face  and  looking  up  once  more,  he 
resumed. 

"  You  remember,  Princess,  how  the  White  Cloud 
counseled  us  to  accept  the  terms  of  the  Government, 
bad  though  they  were,  and  make  peace,  and  prophesied 
that  disaster  would  befall  us  if  we  refused.  Well,  then 
as  now,  events  have  proved  the  truth  of  his  words.  As 
the  years  went  by  and  no  further  trace  of  you  could 
be  found,  the  people  lost  hope  of  ever  seeing  you 
again  and  said  you  were  dead.  But  the  White  Cloud 
maintained  that  you  were  still  alive;  that  the  day  of 
your  return  was  drawing  ever  nearer;  that  he  heard  the 
song  of  birds  and  the  sound  of  laughing  waters  and 
beheld  the  desert  carpeted  with  flowers  in  his  vision  and 
you  in  their  midst  coming  towards  them,  which  typified 
the  renewal  of  life  and  rebirth  of  the  nation.  But  when 
he  announced  that  he  always  saw  you  in  the  company 


WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE  347 

of  a  white  man  who  later  should  rule  over  us,  they 
laughed  at  his  prophecies. 

"  '  A  white  man  rule  over  the  Tewana  ?  How  absurd 
—  impossible!'  They  shook  their  heads  and  said: 
4  The  White  Cloud  is  old  —  his  vision  has  become  dim, 
impaired  through  age ! ' 

The  Captain  and  Chiquita  were  too  amazed  by  Jose's 
words  to  venture  a  reply,  and  sat  gazing  alternately  at 
one  another  and  then  at  the  speaker. 

"  When  I  first  met  the  Captain,"  continued  Jose,  "  I 
wondered  greatly  why  I  was  so  drawn  toward  him. 
True,  he  was  a  man  to  my  liking  and  I  was  doubly  grate 
ful  to  him  for  saving  my  life,  but  that  did  not  wholly 
account  for  my  attachment.  I  was  drawn  to  him  ir 
resistibly  as  by  an  invisible  power.  I  could  not  leave 
him ;  and  when  I  again  saw  you,  Princess,  on  the  day 
that  you  and  the  beautiful  Senorita  met  for  the  first 
time  and  heard  from  your  own  lips  who  you  were  as 
well  as  your  avowal  of  love  for  my  Master,  I  knew 
then  that  the  White  Cloud  had  read  rightly  the  future ; 
that  my  Master,  the  Grand  Senor,  had  been  chosen  by 
the  Great  Spirit  to  rule  with  you  over  our  people. 

"  It  was  then  that  I  learned  how  you  had  come  to 
Padre  Antonio,  after  which  I  returned  to  our  people  and 
told  them  what  I  knew ;  that  I  had  found  not  only  you, 
but  also  the  White  Chief  whom  the  White  Cloud  had 
seen  in  his  vision,  and  that,  if  you  returned  to  them  at 
all,  it  would  surely  be  as  his  bride.  At  first  they 
would  not  believe  me,  but  when  I  persisted  and  reminded 
them  of  the  disasters  that  had  befallen  us  in  the  past 
for  our  failure  to  heed  the  White  Cloud's  councils,  they 


348 

at  last  yielded  and  called  a  grand  council  and  decided 
to  send  a  deputation  composed  of  the  leading  men  of 
the  nation  to  verify  my  statements. 

"  It  was  not  so  much  the  news  that  you  were  still 
alive  that  was  so  difficult  for  them  to  believe,  but  that 
a  white  man  should  rule  over  them  —  a  thing  impos 
sible  and  past  all  belief;  besides,  they  would  not  have 
it.  However,  when  I  conducted  the  deputation,  con 
sisting  of  six  of  our  leading  men,  to  Santa  Fe  and  they 
secretly  beheld  you,  Princess,  they  one  and  all  exclaimed 
as  with  one  breath :  *  'Tis  she,  the  Princess  —  the 
Flaming  Star !  How  like  her  father,  the  Whirlwind,  she 
is!' 

"  They  wanted  to  disclose  their  identity  to  you  then 
and  there  and  exhort  you  to  return  with  them  to  your 
people,  but  I  persuaded  them  to  wait,  reminding  them 
that  the  White  Cloud's  prophecy  was  not  yet  entirely 
fulfilled.  I  then  showed  you  to  them,  Master,"  he  went 
on,  addressing  the  Captain,  "  and  although  they  ac 
knowledged  that  you  were  a  magnificent  specimen  of  a 
man  and  had  the  appearance  of  one  born  to  command, 
they  shook  their  heads  and  said  it  was  impossible  —  that 
a  White  Chief  could  never  rule  over  the  Tewana. 

"  '  Of  a  truth,'  I  answered,  '  the  black-robed  Padres 
are  right !  You  are  a  stiff-necked  people  who  persist  in 
following  in  the  footsteps  of  our  forefathers  who,  we  all 
know,  were  unable  to  lead  the  people  to  the  light.  Only 
the  White  Cloud  was  able  to  foresee  the  future;  grasp 
the  significance  of  both  the  Padres'  and  our  ancient 
Sachems'  teachings.1  That  the  old  order  of  things  had 
come  to  an  end.  That  the  time  had  come  when  strife 


WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE  349 

must  cease  among  men ;  that  the  tidings  were  now  to  be 
fulfilled  which  the  White  Child  with  a  face  like  the  sun 
had  brought  to  the  world,  and  whose  coming  our  ancient 
Sachems  had  predicted  in  the  ancient  days.  Know  also, 
that  the  Princess  has  seen  the  great  world  which  you 
have  not  seen ;  that  in  many  ways  she  is  more  like  a 
white  woman  than  one  of  our  race;  that  she  is  wiser 
than  you  are;  that  the  Great  Spirit  has  shown  her  the 
things  that  are  good  for  us,  and  if  she  becomes  the  wife 
of  the  White  Chief,  you  must  accept  him  if  you  accept 
her,  for  without  him  she  will  never  return  to  you.  Be 
sides,  the  White  Chief  is  the  wisest  of  us  all.  In  his  sight 
both  we  and  most  of  the  men  of  his  own  race  are  as  chil 
dren.5 

"  They  could  not  find  a  fitting  answer  to  my  words 
and  returned  to  our  people.  Ever  since  then  runners 
have  been  coming  and  going  constantly  between  us. 
They  have  been  apprised  of  our  coming  and  await  us." 
Jose  ceased  speaking  and  sat  gazing  meditatively  into 
the  fire  where  he  watched  the  pink  and  violet  flames 
leap  upward  and  lose  themselves  in  the  thin  wreath 
of  white  smoke  which  slowly  ascended  and  floated  away 
over  the  tree  tops.  For  some  time  no  one  spoke,  then 
Captain  Forest  finally  broke  the  silence. 

"  What  you  say,  Jose,  is  truly  wonderful ;  but  know, 
that  we  have  no  more  desire  to  rule  the  Tewana  than 
to  rule  other  men.  But  should  they,  like  the  rest  of 
the  world,  fail  to  heed  our  example,  they  shall  perish 
in  their  ignorance."  He  leaned  forward  and  tossed 
some  fresh  sticks  of  wood  on  the  fire. 

"  It  is  time  for  the  first  watch,  Jose,"  he  continued, 


350  WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE 

rising  to  his  feet  and  glancing  up  at  the  stars  visible 
above  the  tree  tops.  "  Call  me  when  the  Great  Bear 
has  half  circled  the  Pole  Star.  I'll  keep  the  second 
watch." 


XXXIX 

JOSE  brought  in  the  horses  and  he  and  the  Cap 
tain  saddled  and  packed  them ;  after  which  they 
silently  broke  camp  in  the  light  of  the  stars  and  the 
waning  moon.  Jose  took  his  place  at  the  head  of  the 
little  cavalcade,  Chiquita  following  him  and  the  Cap 
tain  bringing  up  the  rear;  he  and  Chiquita  casting  a 
last  look  at  their  first  camp  as  they  rode  away. 

No  one  spoke.  Save  for  the  measured  tread  of  the 
horses  and  noise  of  the  rushing  stream  along  which 
the  trail  led  upwards,  no  sounds  disturbed  the  silence  of 
the  night.  Now  and  then  an  occasional  spark,  struck 
from  the  horses'  iron-rimmed  hoofs,  flashed  for  an  in 
stant  in  the  darkness  along  the  trail. 

The  Captain's  gaze  was  riveted  upon  Chiquita's  tall, 
erect  figure  in  front  of  him  who  ever  and  anon  turned 
in  the  saddle  and  smiled,  her  beautiful,  lustrous  eyes 
flashing  like  stars  in  the  moon-fire. 

Higher  and  higher  they  mounted,  pausing  occasionally 
to  allow  the  horses  time  to  draw  breath,  until  they 
at  length  drew  rein  on  the  summit  of  the  Sierra  Madres. 
Here  a  wonderful  sight  met  their  eyes,  poised  as  they 
were  upon  the  rim  of  the  earth  and  gazing  off  into 
star-strewn  space.  Dawn  was  just  breaking,  suffusing 
the  long  line  of  the  eastern  horizon  with  a  soft,  rosy 

351 


352  WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE 

glow  which  crept  swiftly  towards  them  over  the  gray- 
green,  purple  plains  that  swept  away  from  the  moun 
tains'  base  like  vast  undulating  stretches  of  ocean ;  the 
golden  shafts  of  the  on-coming  dawn  driving  the  paling 
stars  before  them  like  a  shepherd  his  flocks  to  the  hills. 
North  and  south,  as  far  as  the  eye  could  reach,  stretched 
the  broken  and  many  crested  length  of  the  great  Sierra 
Madre  range;  its  sides  clothed  with  dark  forests  of 
cedar  and  pine  and  chaparral,  its  secluded  recesses 
obscured  in  the  gloom;  its  highest  peaks  glowing  with 
golden,  pink  and  violet  tints.  In  the  west,  surrounded 
by  a  host  of  golden  stars  that  still  glittered  in  the  purple 
black  depths  of  vanishing  night,  the  silver  moon  hung 
half-way  dipped  as  it  slowly  sank  behind  the  towering 
crest  of  the  Sahuaripa  range,  an  isolated  spur  of  the 
Sierra  Madres.  A  vast  plain  intervened  between  them 
and  the  distant  Sierras  at  whose  foot  dwelt  the 
Tewana. 

Far  below  them,  from  out  the  shadowy  depths  on 
either  side  of  the  range,  arose  faint  sounds  of  awaken 
ing  life.  The  breeze  began  to  sigh  among  the  tree 
tops,  while  high  above  them  they  heard  the  wild  scream 
of  eagles  that  soared  in  great  circles  with  widespread 
pinions  in  their  morning  flight  to  greet  the  sun.  Great 
waves  of  indefinable  melody,  more  subtle  and  exquisite 
than  music,  swept  over  them,  causing  their  souls  to 
quicken  and  tingle  in  the  freshening  dawn  as  the  Day 
Star  rose  to  hold  again  his  sway  over  earth.  His 
mighty  splendor  and  effulgence  swept  through  and  over 
them,  their  souls  vibrating  with  renewed  life  and  vigor 
as  they  felt  and  recognized  God's  sign  and  immanence 


WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE  353 

as  in  the  days  when  man  first  walked  with  Him  in  the 
cool  of  the  morning. 

They  realized  that  they  had  entered  upon  the  new 
life.  The  promise  was  fulfilled  —  the  veil  was  lifted. 
The  scroll  of  human  destiny  seemed  to  unroll  itself  from 
out  the  dim  traditions  of  the  past,  and  they  beheld  as 
in  a  dream  the  life  that  was  when  first  the  children  of 
men  roamed  the  earth  and  established  the  Kingdom  of 
God  which  was  intended  from  the  beginning.  In  the 
picture  of  the  golden  childhood  of  the  race,  they  beheld 
reflected  in  the  new  light  of  the  future,  the  vision  of 
the  emancipated,  delivered  man,  guided  by  the  lessons 
still  to  be  learned  from  the  great  Book  of  Nature  lying 
open  before  him,  and  the  accumulated  wisdom  of  past 
ages,  handed  down  to  him  by  his  forefathers  through 
travail  and  suffering  and  in  legend  and  song  from  those 
ancient  days  of  suns  and  nights  of  stars  when  the  earth 
and  man  were  young.  A  free-born  race  of  men  who 
are  joint  tenants  of  the  soil,  sharing  all  things  in  common 
with  which  their  bountiful  Mother,  the  Earth,  has  pro 
vided  them.  A  race  of  men,  athletic  in  body  as  they 
are  able  in  mind,  and  spiritual  and  courageous,  recog 
nizing  no  laws  but  those  of  Nature's  or  God's. 

In  silence  and  with  bared  heads  they  gazed  upon  the 
grandeur  of  the  scene  that  lay  spread  out  before  them. 
It  was  as  though  they  looked  back  upon  the  old  life 
from  another  world.  It  lay  so  far  behind  them  that  it 
seemed  but  a  memory ;  not  a  vestige  of  it  clung  to  them, 
so  filled  were  they  with  new  hopes  and  aspirations. 

"  Behold !  "  cried  Jose  excitedly,  pointing  toward  the 
west.  And  looking  in  the  direction  indicated  by  his 


354  WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE 

outstretched  arm,  they  beheld  in  the  dim  distance 
numerous  columns  of  smoke  rising  heavenward  in  the 
clear  morning  air  from  the  tops  of  the  mesas  that  dotted 
the  plain. 

"  'Tis  the  sign  of  your  coming,  Princess !  "  he  con 
tinued.  "  The  people  have  bowed  to  the  will  of  the 
White  Cloud  —  acknowledged  the  authority  of  the 
White  Chief." 

Parrakeets  began  to  twitter  among  the  branches  of 
the  trees  on  every  hand  during  their  descent  of  the 
western  slope.  Ravens  croaked  and  called  from  the 
heart  of  the  forest,  and  the  owl  flitted  by  on  silent  wing. 
Black  birds  with  orange  heads  and  throats  and  splashed 
with  scarlet  on  their  wings,  greeted  them  at  the  foot  of 
the  mountain  among  the  reeds  which  grew  along  the 
stream  they  were  following.  Deer  broke  from  the  wil 
low  copse  and  bounded  away,  while  grouse  rose  on  whir 
ring  wings  from  under  the  horses'  hoofs  as  they  emerged 
upon  the  plain  where  the  wild  cry  of  the  curlew  rang 
clear  and  sharp  on  the  morning.  They  were  free  and 
breathed  deep  of  the  spirit  of  freedom;  listened  to  the 
old  primeval  song  of  nature's  myriad  voices ;  gazed  long 
upon  the  pristine  loveliness  of  earth. 

All  that  day  and  the  three  following,  the  columns  of 
smoke  continued  to  rise  heavenward  as  they  pursued 
their  journey.  At  night,  pillars  of  fire  took  the  place 
of  the  smoke,  and  all  the  while,  save  for  an  occasional 
glimpse  in  the  distance  of  a  solitary  horseman  who  faded 
specterlike  from  view  on  their  approach,  they  saw  not 
a  soul. 

The  Spirit  of  the  Great  Mystery  brooded  over  the 


WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE  355 

land,  and  they  rode  as  in  a  dream.  The  fragrant  cedar 
and  pinon-scented  smoke  mingled  with  the  soft,  thin 
haze  of  the  Indian  summer  which  veiled  the  land  in  its 
golden  glow  of  mystery;  the  sacred  incense,  the  Red 
men  say,  of  the  gods,  burned  on  their  altars  in  ancient 
days ;  a  sign  to  the  people  to  gather  each  year  on  the 
hilltops  and  mesas,  and  in  the  forests  and  plains  during 
the  moon  of  falling  leaves,  and  celebrate  in  prayer  and 
sacred  dance  and  song,  the  advent  of  the  gods. 

The  wind  was  hushed  and  all  things  seemed  to  sleep 
and  dream,  and  they  seemed  to  draw  nearer  to  the  heart 
of  things.  The  great  change  that  had  come  into  their 
lives  was,  after  all,  no  more  wonderful  than  the  changes 
which  they  saw  had  taken  place  in  nature  about  them. 
A  luxuriant  growth  of  tropical  vegetation,  succeeded  by 
vast  forests  of  conifers,  a  remnant  of  which  still  sur 
vived  upon  the  mountains,  once  flourished  in  the  semi- 
desert  through  which  they  traveled.  An  occasional 
broken,  half-buried  pillar,  or  the  remains  of  a  crumbling 
wall  that  had  witnessed  the  passing  of  the  ages  and 
listened  to  the  talcs  borne  on  the  winds,  marked  the 
existence  of  vanished  civilizations  of  which  men  to-day 
know  naught.  All  things  appeared  to  change  and  fade, 
nothing  seemed  permanent,  not  even  the  ideal;  the  mor 
row  was  but  a  forgetting. 

Beneath  them  they  felt  the  Earth,  ponderous  and 
weighty  and  crushing  in  its  immensity  to  the  imagina 
tion,  and  whose  existence  seemed  of  little  moment  in 
comparison  to  the  countless  worlds  that  filled  the  uni 
verse  about  them.  Yet,  insignificant  though  it  appeared, 
was  it  not  a  link  in  the  great  universal  scheme  of  mat- 


056  WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE 

ter,  and  did  it  not  stand  in  the  same  relation  to  the  uni 
verse  as  their  individual  lives  to  the  human  race? 

Like  two  stars  their  souls  had  rushed  together  from 
the  uttermost  confines  of  space.  She  had  been  led  into 
his  world,  and  he  compelled  to  retrace  his  steps  to  al 
most  primitive  conditions  in  order  that  they  might  find 
one  another  and  together  take  up  the  thread  of  their 
common  destiny.  Clearly,  they  were  children  of  des 
tiny  upon  whose  brows  God  had  set  His  seal.  They 
realized  that  the  path  which  lay  before  them  was  not 
one  entirely  strewn  with  flowers.  That  between  the 
chosen  ones,  life  meant  something  more  than  the  love  of 
a  man  for  a  woman,  or  a  woman's  for  a  man.  That 
they  still  stood  with  their  feet  in  the  flame ;  that  earth's 
cup  of  joy  for  them  must  still  remain  one  of  bitter 
sweet;  that  they  must  go  on  to  the  end  in  order  that 
men  might  see  and  hear;  that  the  new  order  of  things 
must  spring  from  them. 

Gay  was  the  Princess.  She  laughed  and  talked  and 
related  incidents  of  her  life  and  her  people;  the  silvery 
tinkle  of  the  bells  on  her  spurs,  accompanying  every 
movement  of  her  horse,  chimed  sweetly  with  her  mood. 
In  the  raven  folds  of  her  blue-black  hair,  she  wore  again 
the  red  berries  as  on  the  day  when  first  he  beheld  her. 
She  seemed  a  part  of  that  tawny  landscape,  splashed 
with  great  patches  of  crimson  and  gold  and  gray  and 
purple  —  the  spirit  and  incarnation  of  the  Indian  sum 
mer. 

As  he  gazed  upon  her  and  listened  to  her  words,  the 
wild  refrain  of  those  familiar  lines  recurred  to  him : 


WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE  357 

"I  will  wed  some  savage  woman;  she  shall  rear  my  dusky  race: 
Iron-jointed,  supple-sinewed,  they  shall  dive  and  they  shall  run, 
Catch  the  wild  goat  by  the  hair,  and  hurl  their  lances  in  the  sun, 
Whistle  back  the  parrot's  call, —  leap  the  rainbows  of  the 
brooks, — " 

The  woman  of  the  ages  had  come  back  again.  Lilith 
and  Eve  and  Isis  and  Venus,  the  foam-kissed,  and  Erda, 
the  dreaming  one.  The  vision  of  the  ancient  world  rose 
before  him;  virgin  forests  and  plains  and  mighty  rivers 
and  mountains ;  the  ancient  temples  of  the  Nile  and  the 
Ganges,  Hellas'  fanes  and  Druidic  monoliths  and  sacred 
groves,  and  voices  of  strange  peoples  mingled  with  the 
soft  notes  of  reed  and  lute. 

Within  the  unending  circle  of  life  and  death,  of  love 
and  hatred,  of  joy  and  sorrow  and  remorse  which  mark 
the  rise  and  passing  of  the  civilizations,  he  beheld  the 
sacred  ash  and  pine,  and  starry  lotus  afloat  upon  the 
face  of  moonlit  waters  in  which  were  mirrored  the  palm 
and  papyrus  and  acanthus,  and  stood  face  to  face  with 
the  serpent  arid  wolf,  the  winged  horse  and  sphinx,  and 
the  dragon  and  the  griffin  when  their  secret  origins  and 
significance  were  known  unto  men.  The  sounds  of  harps 
and  cymbals,  and  lyres  and  timbrels  blended  with  those 
of  conch-shells  and  antelope  horns.  Sighs  and  laughter 
and  curses  and  weeping  mingled  with  the  wild  strains  of 
Homeric  song  and  mystic  rites  of  Chaldea  and  Babylon, 
and  the  sacred  chant  of  Isis.  The  Voodoo  danced  to  the 
rattle  of  shells  and  antelope  hoofs  before  the  shrines  of 
Ethiopia's  dark  woman,  crowned  with  the  sickle  moon, 
and  vast  multitudes  knelt  and  lay  prostrate  before  the 
car  of  Juggernaut  and  the  passing  image  of  Pracriti 


358  WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE 

of  Asia,  the  many-breasted,  the  Goddess  of  Abundance. 

Sun  and  Fire  worshipers  tore  the  hearts  and  scalps 
from  living  victims  and  held  them  aloft  to  the  rising 
sun,  and  men  and  wild  beasts  fought  in  arenas  amid  the 
acclamations  of  the  people. 

He  beheld  the  milk-white  bullocks  of  the  Druid,  gar 
landed  with  flowers,  heading  the  procession  that  entered 
the  dark  groves  in  search  of  the  sacred  mistletoe-bear 
ing  oak;  the  processions  of  Pan  and  Odin,  and  Siva  and 
Vishnu  and  Baal,  and  Venus  and  Bacchus.  Nymphs 
and  fauns  and  dryads  and  hamadryads  called  from  the 
depths  of  the  forest,  and  youths  and  maidens  and  shep 
herds  with  vine-wreathed  brows  danced  in  the  sunlit 
glades  and  on  the  hills  where  the  white  flocks  roamed, 
to  the  plaintive  notes  of  the  mystic  pipes  of  Pan.  He 
beheld  the  flaunting  banners  and  flashing  steel  of  vic 
torious  hosts  and  heard  the  wild,  weird  chants  of  wan 
dering,  barbaric  hordes  that  conquered  and  destroyed. 
The  flash  and  roar  of  artillery  of  recent  times  but  in 
tensified  the  gloom  that  brooded  over  the  world.  The 
struggle  was  unending.  Men  still  remained  the  victims 
and  slaves  of  passion  and  desire.  Their  sighs  and 
curses  and  groans  and  cries  of  hatred  and  despair  in 
creased  with  the  years ;  the  smoke  of  their  torment  black 
ened  the  face  of  the  sun. 

The  waves  of  human  harmony  and  discord  swept  over 
him  like  the  sounds  of  mighty  rushing  winds  and  waters, 
and  he  beheld  the  race  to-day,  as  in  the  past,  in  the 
plains  and  on  the  high  tops,  prostrate  and  erect  with 
hands  outstretched  toward  the  heavens,  crying  for  re 
lease.  And  yet  through  it  and  beneath  it  and  above  it 


WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE  359 

all,  he  heard  a  ringing  note  of  triumph  that  swelled 
onward  and  upward  until  the  vision  shone  clear,  and 
the  true  import  of  their  lives  stood  revealed.  They  had 
overcome  the  world ;  broken  the  fiery  chains  of  desire. 

The  heavens  of  the  old  world  rolled  together  like  a 
scroll,  and  the  sun  and  the  moon  and  the  stars  and  the 
earth  fell  into  the  burning  sea  of  man's  worldliness, 
but  out  of  the  chaos  that  followed,  the  earth  emerged 
once  more,  green  and  beautiful,  and  grain  waved  upon 
its  face,  and  the  voice  of  the  Angel  rang  clear,  crying 
aloud  and  mightily: 

"  Babylon  the  Great  is  fallen,  is  fallen !  Babylon, 
the  woman  mounted  upon  the  scarlet  beast  and  arrayed 
in  purple  and  scarlet  color  and  decked  with  gold  and 
precious  stones  and  pearls,  and  having  a  golden  cup  in 
her  hand  full  of  abominations.  .  .  .  Babylon  upon 
whose  forehead  is  written,  4  Mystery,  Babylon  the 
Great,  the  Mother  of  Harlots  and  Abominations  of  the 
Earth.'  Babylon  drunk  with  wine  and  the  blood  of  those 
who  stood  for  the  truth.  Babylon,  of  whose  wine  and 
delights  all  men  have  drunk  and  with  whom  all  the 
nations  of  the  Earth  have  committed  fornication.  Baby 
lon  whose  sins  have  reached  unto  heaven ;  who  hath 
glorified  herself  and  lived  deliciously  and  who  said  in 
her  heart :  '  I  sit  a  queen,  and  am  no  widow,  and  shall 
know  no  sorrow;  my  joy  shall  continue  forever!' 

"  Her  plagues  shall  come  in  one  day,  death  and 
mourning  and  famine,  and  she  shall  be  utterly  burned 
with  fire.  And  the  kings  and  the  rulers  of  earth,  and 
the  great  men,  and  the  rich  men,  and  the  mighty  men, 
and  the  chief  Captains,  and  the  bondsmen,  and  the  free- 


360  WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE 

men  who  have  lived  deliciously  with  her  and  who  bear  the 
mark  of  the  beast  in  their  hands  and  upon  their  fore 
heads  shall  bewail  her  and  lament  for  her,  crying: 

"  '  Alas,  alas  that  great  city  Babylon,  that  mighty 
city ! ' 

"  And  the  merchants  of  the  earth  shall  weep  and 
mourn  over  her;  for  no  man  buyeth  their  merchandise 
any  more:  The  merchandise  of  gold  and  silver  and 
precious  stones,  and  of  pearls  and  fine  linen,  and  purple, 
and  silk  and  scarlet,  and  all  thyine  wood,  and  all  man 
ner  vessels  of  ivory,  and  all  manner  vessels  of  most 
precious  wood,  and  of  brass  and  iron  and  marble.  And 
cinnamon,  and  odours,  and  ointments,  and  frankincense, 
and  wine,  and  oil,  and  fine  flour,  and  wheat,  and  beasts, 
and  sheep,  and  horses,  and  chariots,  and  slaves,  and  souls 
of  men.  .  .  . 

"  The  fruits  that  thy  soul  lusted  after  are  departed 
from  thee,  and  all  things  which  were  dainty  and  goodly 
are  departed  from  thee,  and  thou  shalt  find  them  no  more 
at  all.  The  merchants  of  these  things  which  were  made 
rich  by  her  shall  stand  afar  off  .  .  .  weeping  and  wail 
ing  and  saying :  *  Alas,  alas  that  great  city,  that  was 
clothed  in  fine  linen  and  purple  and  scarlet,  and  decked 
with  gold  and  precious  stones  and  pearls.  .  .  .'  And 
every  ship  master  and  all  the  company  in  ships,  and 
sailors,  and  as  many  as  trade  by  sea  .  .  .  shall  cry 
when  they  see  the  smoke  of  her  burning,  saying :  '  What 
city  is  like  unto  this  great  city  ? '  And  they  shall 
cast  dust  on  their  heads,  and  weeping  and  wailing,  cry : 
'  Alas,  alas  that  great  city,  wherein  were  made  rich  all 
that  had  ships  in  the  sea  by  reason  of  her  costliness ! ' 


WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE  361 

"  Babylon,  Babylon,  thine  idols  and  graven  images 
of  gods  shall  be  cast  down  and  shattered  utterly  and 
forever!  The  voice  of  harpers,  and  musicians,  and  of 
pipers,  and  trumpeters  shall  be  heard  no  more  at  all 
in  thee ;  and  no  craftsman  of  whatsoever  craft  he  be 
shall  be  found  any  more  in  thee;  and  the  sound  of  a 
millstone  shall  be  heard  no  more  at  all  in  thee;  and  the 
light  of  a  candle  shall  shine  no  more  at  all  in  thee ;  and 
the  voice  of  the  bridegroom  and  of  the  bride  shall  be 
heard  no  more  at  all  in  thee;  for  thy  merchants  were 
the  great  men  of  the  earth;  for  by  thy  sorceries  were 
all  nations  of  the  earth  deceived !  " 

Babylon,  Babylon,  thou  fair  city,  thou  proud  world, 
thou  wonderful  emanation  of  men's  minds,  thou  fair 
wanton,  thou  beauteous  licentious  harlot  of  gold  and 
gems,  and  white  linen,  and  silks,  and  of  henna,  and 
myrrh,  and  frankincense,  and  sweet-smelling  herbs,  no 
more  shall  thy  sons  and  daughters  rejoice  in  thee  and 
worship  thee !  Thy  grass  shall  be  withered  and  thy  fig 
trees  shall  cast  their  figs,  and  thy  gold  and  silver,  and  thy 
diamonds,  and  rubies,  and  sapphires,  and  turquoise,  and 
emeralds,  and  opals,  and  pearls,  and  topaz,  shall  lie 
scattered  and  in  heaps  for  him  to  take  who  wisheth  them, 
but  none  shall  desire  them. 

No  more  shall  thy  daughters  sit  in  the  shadow  of 
thy  vines  where  nesteth  the  dove,  and  glorify  thee  in 
idle  jest  and  laughter  and  song,  and  longingly  wait  for 
the  coming  of  the  night,  for  they  shall  be  bereft  of  their 
silks,  and  their  girdles,  and  anklets,  and  bracelets  of 
gold  and  jewels.  Thy  songs  and  paeans  of  triumph  and 
victory  shall  cease  with  the  tainted  stream  of  thy  desires, 


362  WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE 

and  the  walls  of  thy  temples  shall  crumble  to  dust.  Thy 
stars  shall  pale,  and  the  sun  and  the  moon  shall  il 
lumine  thee  no  longer,  for  the  day  approacheth  when 
thy  blandishments  shall  fail  to  allure. 

Babylon,  Babylon,  thou  proud  city,  thou  who  sit- 
teth  upon  many  waters,  thou  whose  sway  encompasseth 
the  earth,  how  hast  thou  fallen ! 


XL 

ON  the  afternoon  of  the  fifth  day  they  drew  rein  on 
a  high,  shelving,  terracelike  stretch  of  ground 
overlooking  a  broad  valley,  and  almost  opposite  the  chief 
Tewana  village  which  nestled  at  the  foot  of  the  Sa- 
huaripa  range,  running  north  and  south  until  lost  on  the 
horizon. 

Back  of  the  village  a  cataract  flung  itself  downward 
over  the  mountain's  side  into  the  valley,  its  clouds  of 
spray  reflecting  innumerable  rainbow  tints  in  the  sun 
shine.  Great  forests,  abounding  in  wild  animal  life, 
clothed  the  mountain's  slopes. 

It  was  a  peaceful,  fruitful  valley  upon  which  they 
gazed ;  the  land  where  Chiquita  formerly  dwelt.  The 
grass  grew  knee-deep  in  the  meadows.  Willows  and 
water-birch  and  sycamore  and  alders  and  poplars,  inter 
spersed  with  pines  and  oaks,  grew  in  clusters  along  the 
banks  of  the  broad,  rushing  stream  that  ran  between 
them  and  the  distant  village  whose  low,  vine-clad  walls 
glowed  golden  and  rose  and  purple  and  gray  in  the 
rays  of  the  afternoon  sun.  The  diminutive  city  was 
a  mass  of  trees  and  foliage  and  seemed  a  part  of  the 
landscape ;  so  small  were  the  houses  and  so  harmonious 
its  setting.  Fields  of  flax  and  melons,  and  beans  and 
squash,  and  corn  and  tobacco,  and  small  orchards  and 
vineyards  already  harvested,  dotted  the  valley  close  to 

863 


364  WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE 

the  meadows  which  bordered  the  tree-fringed  stream. 
Herds  of  horses  and  cattle  and  flocks  of  sheep  and  goats, 
intermingled  with  wild  herds  of  deer  and  antelope, 
browsed  on  the  meadows  and  slopes  above  the  river  where 
they  stood.  Wild  ducks  and  geese  and  swan  swam  in 
the  river,  and  grouse  and  wild  turkeys  and  quail  and 
plover  roamed  the  forests  and  uplands.  There  was  no 
promiscuous  killing  of  wild  animals  allowed  among  the 
Tewana;  they  were  shared  in  common  like  the  domes 
ticated  animals.  Innumerable  canoes,  used  for  fishing, 
were  drawn  up  on  the  banks  of  the  river. 

The  Tewana  were  an  independent,  self-supporting 
people.  At  all  seasons  of  the  year  were  heard  the  sounds 
of  the  hand-loom  and  the  smith's  anvil  —  the  fashioners 
of  iron  and  precious  metals.  The  weavers  of  cloth  and 
baskets,  and  potters  and  tanners  fashioned  their  wares 
in  the  open  in  the  shade  of  their  walls  and  trees. 

The  life  these  people  led,  free  from  the  harassing 
cares  and  anxieties  of  the  White  man,  was  almost  ideal. 
During  the  spring  and  summer  months  they  tended  their 
fields,  and  after  the  harvests  were  gathered  in  the  autumn 
and  the  surplus  produce  stored  in  public  granaries,  they 
engaged  in  the  chase;  hunting  only  with  the  bow  and 
spear  —  camping  in  the  open,  in  the  forests  and  plains 
until  the  advent  of  winter.  During  the  ensuing  months, 
until  the  coming  of  spring,  the  children  were  instructed 
by  their  parents  in  the  industrial  arts ;  taught  the  tradi 
tions  of  their  people,  and  how  to  read  and  write,  and 
to  observe  the  courses  of  the  stars  and  to  forecast  the 
weather  and  predict  the  nature  of  the  seasons.  With 
the  coming  of  the  seedtime,  they  entered  the  fields  with 


WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE  365 

their  elders  and  learned  to  sow  and  tend  and  reap  the 
crops. 

Thus,  by  the  time  the  child  had  attained  the  age  of 
sixteen,  he  was  thoroughly  conversant  with  all  that  was 
necessary  to  meet  the  demands  of  life.  He  became  an 
independent,  self-supporting  unit,  while  his  constant  con 
tact  with  nature  not  only  revealed  the  latter's  secrets 
and  the  laws  governing  natural  phenomena,  but  de 
veloped  him  physically  and  spiritually  as  only  nature 
can.  All  orphaned  children  were  adopted  by  the  dif 
ferent  families,  and  consequently,  there  were  no  out 
casts  or  poor  and  ignorant  among  the  people. 

Every  house  was  surrounded  by  a  small  plot  of  ground 
sufficient  to  supply  the  family  with  fruit,  poultry,  grain 
and  vegetables ;  from  two  to  three  acres  in  extent.  Their 
herds  were  held  in  common  and  permitted  to  run  at  will 
like  the  deer;  requiring  but  little  care. 

The  Tewana  only  produced  enough  to  feed  and  clothe 
themselves.  The  use  of  money  was  forbidden  among 
them,  and  trade  and  barter  limited  practically  to  the 
individual  who,  desiring  something  particular  from  his 
neighbor,  procured  the  latter  an  equivalent  in  return. 

They  regarded  material  things  as  merely  a  means 
to  an  end,  and  considered  it  a  disgrace  for  any  one  to 
accumulate  wealth ;  for  it  was  noted  that  one's  spiritual 
development  declined  in  the  same  ratio  that  his  material 
possessions  increased.  Like  the  land,  they  held  the 
forests  and  minerals  and  waters  and  animals  in  common. 
These  were  the  sacred  things,  the  gift  of  nature,  and 
could  not  be  bartered  or  sold.  In  their  eyes,  only  the 
depraved  soul  of  a  peddler  ever  could  have  conceived  the 


366  WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE 

idea  of  turning  them  into  merchandise.  Naturally  it 
had  taken  centuries  of  evolution  to  create  this  attitude 
—  but  they  had  attained.  There  was,  however,  no  need 
of  wealth.  Since  they  enjoyed  the  earth's  natural  re 
sources  in  common,  there  was  enough  and  an  abundance 
for  all ;  placing  the  high  and  the  low  on  a  footing  of 
material  equality. 

Four  months'  energetic  labor  was  all  that  was  re 
quired  to  produce  the  annual  necessities  of  life,  allow 
ing  the  individual  the  greater  portion  of  his  days  to 
devote  to  the  development  of  his  natural  capacities. 
There  were  no  idlers,  the  women  sharing  the  responsibil 
ities  of  life  the  same  as  the  men.  All  contributed 
their  services  to  that  which  was  required  for  the  good 
of  the  community ;  the  maintenance  of  aqueducts  and 
roads  in  the  towns  and  the  guarding  of  the  herds.  Aside 
from  these  slight  duties,  the  individual  was  free  to  fol 
low  the  bent  of  his  desires.  Those  who  refused  to  con 
tribute  such  services  were  driven  from  the  community 
and  became  nomads,  but  such  instances  were  rare;  all 
preferring  to  enjoy  the  benefits  which  civilization,  com 
bined  with  the  greatest  amount  of  liberty,  bestowed  upon 
the  individual. 

Opposite  the  chief  pueblo,  on  the  same  side  of  the 
river  occupied  by  themselves,  stood  the  ruins  of  an 
other  town  in  a  fair  state  of  preservation.  It  differed 
greatly  in  appearance  from  the  one  opposite.  It  was 
compactly  built,  resembling  more  a  modern  Mexican 
town  than  the  pure  type  of  Indian  pueblo.  In  answer 
to  the  Captain's  inquiries  concerning  it,  Chiquita  smiled 
and  said :  "  Originally  there  were  sixty  pueblos,  aver- 


WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE  367 

aging  from  two  to  three  thousand  inhabitants  each ;  the 
number  of  inhabitants  to  which  the  size  of  our  towns 
are  limited.  Owing  to  the  new  ideas  that  were  intro 
duced  among  us  by  the  priests  and  traders  that  were 
permitted  to  visit  us  from  time  to  time,  many  of  our 
people  sought  to  establish  a  new  order  of  things;  like 
that  prevailing  throughout  the  greater  part  of  the  world 
to-day.  But  in  order  that  I  may  make  clear  what  I 
am  about  to  say,  I  must  first  tell  you,  that  the  Tewana 
are  as  quick  to  recognize  and  encourage  talent  and 
genius  as  were  the  ancient  Greeks  —  that  there  are  many 
artists  among  my  people  who  have  developed  their  arts 
to  a  high  degree  of  perfection  —  poets,  painters, 
sculptors  and  musicians. 

"  These  artists,  especially,  became  imbued  with  the 
new  ideas,  and  instead  of  continuing  to  create  for  art's 
sake  only,  as  had  been  the  custom  of  their  fathers,  em 
bellishing  their  houses  and  articles  of  use  with  their 
artistic  creations,  or  spreading  their  poetry  and  music 
and  national  sagas  abroad  after  the  manner  of  the 
Minnesingers  of  old,  they,  with  the  others  who  had  be 
come  affected,  began  to  adopt  new  customs  —  to  build 
churches  and  temples  in  which  to  worship  and  preserve 
their  arts,  and  sought  to  introduce  money  and  taxation 
and  all  that  they  entail  among  the  people  in  order  that 
the  new  institutions  might  be  maintained. 

"  The  disaffection  became  widespread,  affecting  about 
half  the  people.  The  White  Cloud  and  my  father 
did  all  in  their  power  to  persuade  the  renegades, 
as  they  were  called,  to  return  to  the  old  ways  again; 
maintaining  that  God  dwelt  in  the  open,  not  in  temples, 


368  WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE 

and  that  the  works  of  man  which  entailed  the  burden  of 
taxation  for  their  maintenance,  depriving  man  of  his 
freedom,  were  not  worth  retaining.  That  it  was  not 
economy,  but  extravagance  to  maintain  them,  and  an 
unnecessary  waste  of  energy ;  for  the  instant  man,  in 
his  material  evolution,  goes  beyond  the  procuring  of  the 
necessities  of  life,  he  becomes  immeshed  in  the  creations 
of  his  own  world  and  a  slave  to  them.  But  in  vain. 
They  refused  to  listen  to  the  wisdom  of  their  words 
and  only  laughed  in  answer  to  their  pleadings.  Where 
upon,  the  most  terrible  battles  ensued ;  costing  the  lives 
of  fifty  thousand  of  our  best  fighting  men  and  women ; 
for  among  us,  the  women,  like  the  men,  are  warriors, 
and  quite  as  capable  of  self-defense.  They  likewise 
take  part  in  all  our  games.  In  fact,  they  receive  the 
same  training  in  all  things  as  the  men  in  order  that 
they  may  be  equally  fitted  to  bear  the  responsibilities 
of  citizenship. 

"  Our  women  are  trained  for  battle,  not  particularly 
to  make  warriors  of  them,  but  for  the  same  reason 
that  the  Greeks  placed  athletics  before  all  else.  Not 
that  they  considered  athletics  superior  to  the  other  arts 
and  sciences,  but  without  physical  perfection,  they 
realized  there  could  be  no  proper  mental  poise,  no 
balance  between  mind  and  body.  When  you  see  our 
youth,  our  young  men  and  women,  contest  for  the 
honors  in  our  games  and  military  exercises  you'll  realize 
the  truth  of  this.  The  entire  nation  gathers  together 
once  a  year  to  witness  these  sports  and  exercises  and 
judge  the  skill  of  the  contestants.  No  Olympic  games 
ever  surpassed  them.  You  shall  see  wonderfully  beau- 


WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE          369 

tiful  men  and  women,  the  result  of  their  training.  Men 
and  women  who  grow  naturally  from  the  ground  up, 
like  the  tree  or  the  flower.  Believe  me,  your  people 
don't  know  what  it  is  to  really  live,  to  taste  of  the 
true  joys  of  life;  they  only  exist. 

"  Owing  to  the  terrific  loss  we  sustained  during  the 
rebellion,  we  were  forced  to  make  terms  with  the  Mexi 
can  Government  and  pay  an  annual  tribute  like  the  rest 
of  her  people.  It  was  my  first  introduction  to  battle. 
I  don't  think  I  shall  ever  forget  those  terrible  days 
of  slaughter.  No  quarter  was  shown,  for  we  knew  that 
defeat  meant  the  extermination  of  our  race.  There 
ought  to  be  about  a  hundred  thousand  of  us  left,"  she 
continued.  "  Twenty  pueblos  in  all  were  destroyed,  and 
may  their  ruins  long  continue  to  stand  as  monuments 
of  the  folly  of  men !  " 

"  But  how  about  your  schools  and  hospitals  and 
asylums  and  prisons?  "  asked  the  Captain. 

"  Men  who  lead  natural  lives  have  no  need  of  such 
things,"  she  answered.  "  Nature  is  all  sufficient  and  has 
provided  all  things  for  man's  proper  development.  The 
man  or  woman  who  can  not  instruct  a  child  in  the 
things  that  are  worth  knowing  and  necessary  to  meet 
the  demands  of  life,  is  a  barbarian  and  only  half  civi 
lized.  Once  a  man  becomes  civilized,  the  civilizing 
process  ends.  A  man's  spiritual  growth  is  not  depen 
dent  upon  his  inventions,  his  sciences  or  his  arts,  but 
is  a  thing  apart  from  mental  growth.  If  this  were  not 
so,  his  hope  of  ultimate  deliverance  would  be  a  delusion. 
Contagious  diseases  were  unknown  to  us  until  intro 
duced  among  us  by  white  men.  As  for  criminals,  they 


370  WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE 

are  very  rare  among  us.  When  all  men  have  an  equal 
opportunity  in  life  there  is  no  incentive  to  commit 
crime.  Acts  that  are  the  result  of  sudden  fits  of  pas 
sion,  are  not  the  acts  of  criminals,  but  the  righting  of 
a  supposed  wrong  done  the  individual.  But  even  these 
are  rare.  Should  any  one  transgress  the  law,  he  is 
punished,  not  imprisoned.  Only  a  fool  would  go  to 
the  trouble  and  expense  of  keeping  a  man  imprisoned. 
A  delinquent  is  punished  so  severely  that  he  will  not 
transgress  the  law  a  second  time;  for  a  second  serious 
offense  against  society  is  punished  usually  with  death. 
From  what  I  have  told  you,  you  can  gather  that  we 
are  not  the  savages  the  world  imagines  men  to  be  who 
lead  a  natural  existence.  You  can  see  how  easily  we, 
with  our  knowledge  and  theirs,  could  lead  them  to  the 
light." 

"  Is  there  nothing  between  the  picture  your  people 
present  and  the  world  we  know?  " 

"  Nothing !  What  else  could  there  be  ?  After  the 
final  appraisement  of  things  has  been  taken  and  they 
have  been  weighed  in  the  balance  and  adjudged,  this 
is  the  condition  that  must  confront  mankind,  for  no 
other  condition  offers  man  such  unlimited  scope  for 
the  development  of  his  higher  nature.  What  you  see  is 
the  true  picture  of  the  delivered  man.  The  Golden 
Age,  or  the  Garden  of  Eden  is  no  myth.  Men  once 
were  free  and  remained  so  until  they  gave  way  to  desire 
and  established  for  themselves  a  world  of  delusion  in 
which  there  is  no  permanency  either  of  thought  or  pos 
session.  The  traditions  of  all  nations  and  all  peoples, 
from  time  immemorial,  tell  of  this  state  when  men  were 


WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE  371 

free.  They  also  predict  the  destruction  of  present- 
day  society.  The  Utopias  and  Golden  Ages  depicted 
by  poets  and  dreamers,  though  beautiful  to  dwell  upon 
in  fancy,  are  of  the  tissue  of  dreams.  They  will  not 
bear  analysis.  They  are  merely  other  names  for  dif 
ferent  forms  of  bondage;  the  same  old  romantic  fal 
lacies  which  we  are  forever  meeting  in  works  of  fiction." 

"  And  how  long  shall  the  world  we  know  continue 
until  the  new  dispensation  comes  to  pass  ?  " 

"  Until  men  overcome  the  fear  of  death !  Then  shall 
they  be  born  anew  and  come  into  their  rightful  heri 
tage.  Then  shall  they  grasp  the  spiritual  significance 
of  the  Golden  Age  as  voiced  by  the  Prophet:  When 
first  the  foundations  of  the  Earth  were  laid;  when  the 
morning  stars  sang  together  and  all  the  Sons  of  God 
shouted  for  joy,  for  we  are  they! " 


XLI 

ON  either  side  of  the  village,  forming  a  vast  semi 
circle,  stood  innumerable  lodges  and  hogans,  tem 
porary  structures  erected  by  the  inhabitants  of  the  other 
villages,  who  had  come  to  show  homage  to  the  Princess 
and  the  White  Chief,  as  the  Captain  was  called. 

While  gazing  in  the  direction  of  the  village  which  was 
too  far  distant  for  them  to  distinguish  more  than  an 
indistinct  outline  of  objects,  they  beheld  two  dark  col 
umns  of  horsemen  issue  forth  from  the  center  of  the 
great  semicircle  of  lodges  and  move  slowly  in  their 
direction.  Chiquita  guessed  their  meaning.  As  a  child 
she  had  witnessed  the  ceremony  when  her  father,  the 
Whirlwind,  was  proclaimed  Chief  of  the  nation. 

Without  pausing,  they  came  trailing  across  the  val 
ley  in  two  separate  columns,  thousands  of  horsemen 
and  women,  the  men  on  the  right  hand,  the  women  on 
the  left;  all  riding  bareback  with  simple  riatas  twisted 
around  the  horse's  lower  jaw.  Save  for  their  sandals 
and  the  skins  of  the  panther  and  ocelot  and  jaguar, 
the  Mexican  leopard,  which  they  wore  clasped  at  the 
left  shoulder  by  a  golden,  jeweled  clasp,  and  which 
fell  diagonally  down  across  the  body  to  the  right  knee, 
leaving  the  arms  and  shoulders  and  the  greater  part 
of  the  body  bare  and  the  left  leg  exposed  to  the  hip,  the 
women  were  as  naked  as  the  men  who  wore  sandals 

372 


WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE  373 

and  loin-skins  only.  Heavy  clasps  and  bracelets  and 
girdles  of  gold  and  silver,  set  with  pearls  and  opals, 
and  turquoise  and  topaz,  and  emeralds  and  sapphires, 
adorned  their  arms  and  waists. 

Among  the  Tewana  there  was  no  distinction  in  au 
thority  between  man  and  woman.  Like  the  Amazons 
of  old,  the  women  carried  long  steel-tipped  lances  and 
shields  and  bows  and  quivers  of  arrows  slung  across 
their  backs  as  did  the  men.  The  head  of  each  Cacique 
or  Chieftain  of  a  hundred  warriors  or  Amazons  was 
adorned  with  a  circlet  of  gold  with  a  clasp  of  precious 
stones  on  the  left  side  of  the  head  holding  a  single 
eagle's  feather  that  slanted  downward  across  the  left 
shoulder. 

On  they  came,  the  half-wild  horses  prancing  and 
plunging  and  snorting  and  neighing,  their  manes  and 
the  long  black  hair  and  braids  of  the  men  and  women 
flying  in  the  breeze;  the  lance  tips  and  jewels  and 
their  naked,  bronze  bodies  flashing  and  glistening  in 
the  sun;  a  wonderful,  wild,  picturesque,  barbaric  pa 
geant,  a  voice  from  the  past ;  magnificent  specimens 
of  manhood  and  womanhood;  free  men,  exemplifying 
the  fullness  of  life  —  the  life  that  is  worth  living.  The 
jewels  and  precious  metals  which  they  wore  represented 
incredible  wealth,  but  were  regarded  by  them  as  objects 
of  beauty  only,  for  these  were  the  Tewana,  the  people, 
who  for  the  sake  of  freedom,  had  trampled  material 
wealth  under  foot;  had  held  Montezuma  in  check  and 
resisted  the  encroachments  of  the  Spaniard  ever  since 
the  days  of  Cortez,  knowing  themselves  to  be  a  supe 
rior  people  and  of  more  ancient  origin. 


374  WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE 

A  wild,  weird  chant  that  rolled  and  swelled  in  great 
undulatory  waves  of  melody  down  the  long  lines  of 
warriors,  was  borne  to  them  on  the  breeze.  The  whole 
valley  was  filled  with  the  song,  the  hills  and  mountains, 
reverberating  and  resounding,  echoed  back  the  re 
frain. 

"  'Tis  the  ancient  chant  of  the  kings !  "  explained 
Chiquita.  "  Of  course  we  no  longer  go  to  war  thus. 
Nevertheless,  it  is  the  ancient  rite  that  must  be  per 
formed  so  long  as  the  Tewana  remain  a  nation." 

Nearer  and  nearer  drew  the  advancing  host,  the  vol 
ume  of  sound  swelling  and  increasing,  until  splash 
ing  through  the  river  and  sweeping  up  the  slope  to 
where  they  stood,  the  leaders  drew  rein  before  them,  and 
raising  their  lances  on  high,  a  mighty  shout  burst  from 
the  throats  of  the  warriors,  interrupting  the  song. 
Again  and  again  the  valley  and  mountains  echoed  and 
reverberated  with  the  prolonged  shouts  and  acclama 
tions  until  the  chant  was  taken  up  once  more. 

An  eagle  with  wide-spread  wings  soared  above  them 
in  the  blue  of  heaven  and  seemed  to  accompany  them 
as  they  swept  along  between  the  lines  in  the  direction 
of  the  village ;  each  company  of  warriors  and  Amazons, 
without  interrupting  the  chant,  raising  their  lances  in 
salute  as  they  passed.  There  was  no  doubt  in  the  minds 
of  the  Tewana  regarding  Captain  Forest's  ability  to 
rule  as  they  gazed  upon  the  man  and  the  horse  he 
rode.  He  was  as  tall  and  deep  chested  as  the  Whirl 
wind,  while  his  piercing,  hawklike  gaze  and  face  shone 
with  the  strength  and  determination  of  one  born  to 
command.  The  Chestnut  tossed  his  great  white  mane 


WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE  375 

in  the  air  and  neighed  and  plunged  and  curveted  between 
the  lines. 

Truly  the  White  Cloud  had  read  the  future  well  - 
the  White  Chief  had  come  with  the  Princess. 

On  they  rode,  the  song  and  acclamations  of  the  war 
riors  ringing  in  their  ears,  their  gaze  now  scanning  the 
faces  of  these  wonderful  people,  now  lifted  heavenward 
to  the  eagle  which  floated  overhead  and  continued  to 
accompany  thorn.  Their  souls  thrilled  with  the  exqui 
site  joy  of  living  which  the  scene  and  the  surroundings 
inspired  in  them.  A  scene  which  men  have  dreamed  of 
during  moments  of  spiritual  uplift,  and  have  longed  to 
behold  and  imitate  and  become  a  part  of,  and  escape 
from  the  sordidness  and  pettiness  of  mundane  existence 
and  live  the  life  of  men  where  life  is  life  and  every 
breath  is  freedom ;  where  the  desire  to  live  is  dominant 
and  the  future  holds  no  terrors,  and  each  new  day 
and  sun  and  moon  and  procession  of  the  stars  are 
greeted  with  the  joy  that  is  born  of  living  and  hailed 
as  emblems  of  the  creative  force  that  marks  and  ani 
mates  the  passing  of  the  seasons. 

At  the  end  of  the  lines,  on  a  slight  eminence  before 
the  village,  in  front  of  a  great  gathering  of  aged  men 
and  women  and  children,  stood  the  tall,  erect  figure  of 
an  ancient  warrior  and  patriarch  with  long,  snow-white 
hair  that  fell  over  his  shoulders.  Like  the  Amazons, 
he  was  clad  in  a  jaguar's  skin  held  in  place  by  a  golden 
girdle  and  clasps  studded  with  jewels,  and  wore  sandals 
on  his  feet.  A  circlet  of  gold  wrought  with  runic  sym 
bols,  to  the  left  side  of  which  was  attached  a  raven's 
wing,  encircled  his  head,  while  in  his  right  hand  he 


376  WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE 

held  a  long  willow  staff  or  wand  to  which  were  attached 
seven  eagle  feathers  that  fluttered  in  the  breeze. 

It  was  the  great  Sachem,  the  White  Cloud.  A  hun 
dred  winters  sat  upon  his  clear,  broad  arching  brow, 
and  yet  the  years  seemed  to  rest  lightly  upon  him. 
His  benign,  beaming  countenance  shone  with  an  almost 
supernatural  radiance  that  bespoke  the  gift  of  the  seer. 
.Without  altering  his  position,  he  quietly  signed  to  Chi- 
quita  and  the  Captain  to  dismount  and  approach. 
Meanwhile  the  warriors  had  gathered  in  a  great  semi 
circle  in  front  of  them.  For  some  time  the  White  Cloud 
continued  to  gaze  at  them  in  silent  scrutiny,  his  large, 
dark,  piercing  eyes  roving  from  Chiquita's  face  to  the 
Captain's,  in  the  seeming  effort  to  fathom  their  thoughts 
and  the  very  depths  of  their  souls,  as  though  to  re 
assure  himself  of  the  truth  of  his  prophecy. 

"  It  is  done.  You  have  come  at  last,  my  children  — 
the  prophecy  is  fulfilled !  "  he  began  at  length.  Then, 
raising  the  staff  which  he  held  in  his  right  hand  and 
pointing  directly  upward  to  where  the  eagle  continued 
to  soar  in  great  circles,  he  cried  in  a  deep  sonorous  voice 
that  all  might  hear:  "  Behold  the  sacred  bird,  God's 
sign  and  symbol ;  the  sacred  witness  to  the  consecration 
of  His  chosen  ones !  For  was  it  not  written  in  the 
ancient  runes  that,  after  the  coming  of  the  White  Child 
with  a  face  like  the  sun,  the  ancient  spirit  of  Hia 
watha,  the  Red  Man's  Messiah,  would  revisit  the  world 
of  men  once  more  upon  the  back  of  an  eagle  to  verify 
the  truth  of  those  words  uttered  by  the  White  Child? 

"  Since  the  dawn  of  man's  birth  the  centuries  have 
waited  for  this  day !  Henceforth,"  he  continued,  ad- 


WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE          377 

dressing  the  Captain,  "  you  shall  be  known  unto  all 
men  as  Soaring  Eagle,  the  Winged  Spirit !  And  you, 
Flaming  Star,  as  the  Giver  of  Life !  "  Then,  planting 
the  wand  upright  in  the  ground  between  them,  he  bade 
them  take  hold  of  it ;  Chiquita  with  the  left  hand  and 
the  Captain  with  the  right,  his  hand  above  hers. 

"  By  the  power  and  sacred  symbolism  represented 
by  this  staff,"  he  continued,  "  I  invest  you  both  with 
the  supreme  authority.  And  further,  I  call  all  men 
to  witness  that,  the  hand  of  Soaring  Eagle  rests  above 
that  of  the  Giver  of  Life,  which  signifies  that  his  word 
shall  outweigh  all  others  in  the  Councils  of  the  People." 
He  ceased  speaking  and  turned  to  the  Captain  as  if 
awaiting  his  reply. 

A  prolonged  silence  ensued,  during  which  the  latter's 
gaze  swept  the  vast  conclave  of  horsemen  and  forest  of 
lances  that  glittered  in  the  sunlight  and  the  wild  moun 
tains  beyond  which  towered  above  the  valley  and  had 
looked  down  upon  the  Tewana  in  the  ancient  days  when 
his  race  was  in  the  cradle  of  its  infancy.  Beside  him 
stood  the  beauteous  woman  who  seemed  endowed  with 
all  the  wit  and  graces  the  poets  of  the  ages  had  at 
tributed  to  the  ideal  woman.  An  inspiring,  uplifting 
spectacle,  far  surpassing  in  its  reality  the  vision  of  his 
dreams. 

He  had  attained  the  goal.  The  responsibility  had 
been  laid  upon  him,  and  without  hesitation  he  accepted 
the  charge,  and  spake ;  his  words  being  translated  by 
Chiquita,  were  repeated  in  turn  to  the  multitude  by  the 
White  Cloud. 

"  Tewana,  we  accept  the  charge  which  you  have  im- 


378  WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE 

posed  in  us,"  he  began  quietly.  "  But  understand,  we 
come  not  to  rule  you ;  we  come  to  guide  you.  It  is  time 
that  you  should  learn  to  rule  yourselves. 

"  The  days  of  rulers  have  passed.  Woe  unto  them 
that  seek  to  rule,  and  woe  unto  the  people  that  bows 
its  neck  to  rulers !  The  message  which  we  have  come 
to  deliver  unto  you,  we  deliver  likewise  unto  all  men 
and  it  shall  go  forth  unto  the  uttermost  confines  of  the 
earth."  He  paused,  then  raising  his  voice  on  high  once 
more,  he  continued: 

"  Tewana,  do  you  accept  the  terms  ?  We  come  to 
guide  you,  not  to  rule  you !  " 

A  profound  silence  followed  his  speech.  No  sound 
was  heard  save  the  sighing  of  the  wind  among  the 
warriors'  lance  tips  and  shields  and  their  arrow-filled 
quivers,  and  the  rustling  of  the  seven  eagle  feathers 
attached  to  the  White  Cloud's  staff. 

"  Tewana,"  he  asked  again.  "  Do  you  accept  the 
terms  ?  " 

Again  all  was  silence.  Then,  all  of  a  sudden,  a  vi 
brant,  ringing  note,  audible  to  all,  the  scream  of  the 
eagle,  came  floating  downward,  clear  and  bell-like,  from 
out  the  sky. 

"  'Tis  the  warning  voice  of  the  bird ;  the  wisdom 
of  the  Ancient  Ones !  "  cried  the  White  Cloud.  "  The 
spirit  of  the  Great  Mystery  has  spoken  once  more! 

"  We  accept  —  we  accept !  "  And  seizing  the  staff 
with  his  right  hand,  he  raised  it  and  made  the  sign 
of  the  cross  above  their  heads.  Then  turning  and  fac 
ing  the  warriors,  he  raised  the  staff  on  high  once  more 
and  cried  in  a  loud  voice : 


WHEN  DREAMS  COME  TRUE  379 

"  Tewana,  earth-born  Children  of  the  Sun,  salute 
your  Chieftains !  "  A  mighty  shout  went  up  from  the 
entire  multitude.  Ten  thousand  bow-strings  twanged 
on  the  air,  and  ten  thousand  arrows  flew  upward  toward 
the  sun. 

Again  and  again  the  shouts  of  acclamation  broke 
from  the  assembled  multitude  and  swept  over  them  in 
great  waves  of  sound  until  valley  and  hills  and  moun 
tains  resounded  with  the  cry,  and  then  the  people  again 
took  up  the  ancient  chant  of  the  kings  whose  refrain, 
filling  the  valley,  swelled  ever  outward  and  upward  to  the 
great  sacred  bird  that  soared  high  aloft  with  widespread 
pinions  in  the  pale  azure  of  heaven. 

"  It  is  done  —  it  is  done !  "  echoed  and  reechoed  the 
refrain.  Few  there  are  to  whom  the  vision  has  been 
given,  and  fewer  still  that  heed  it. 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  LIBRARY 

Los  Angeles 
This  book  is  DUE  on  the  last  date  stamped  below. 


Form  L9-50m-4,'61(B8994s4)444 


PS 
1Z( 


Brown  - 
When  dreams 
come  true 


A     000917357     6 


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